The differential effects of two treatments at a conflict marker in therapy

The differential effects of two treatments applied at a conflict marker in therapy were examined in an analogue study using sixteen Ss, students in a graduate counselling programme, and four therapists. Depth of Experiencing was the dependent variable used to compare the differential effects of Demarcation, a therapeutic intervention drawn from Gestalt therapy, and Empathic responses, when applied at a "Split" or expression of personal conflict. Each therapist saw four clients twice, using Demarcation in one session and Empathy in the other. The sessions were rated on The Experiencing Scale (Klein et al, 1969) and a three-factor, mixed-effects analysis of variance with repeated measures was performed. The results indicated that Demarcation applied to a Conflict Split led to levels of experiencing significantly greater than those produced by the application of Empathic responses. A descriptive, speculative analysis was made of the in-therapy experiencing patterns under the two treatments.Education, Faculty ofEducational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department ofGraduat