Tsz-Yeung Harold Chui will discuss the role of therapist emotions in the work of therapy on October 30, 2015, at 3:30 p.m. in 111 Uhler Hall.
What makes psychotherapy work? Recent
advances in psychotherapy process and outcome research have pointed to the
contribution of therapist factors to variability in patient outcome. Most
studies to date have examined therapist trait variables (e.g., sex, experience,
attachment style) and their relations to patient outcome, but few investigators
have looked at the role of therapist state variables. As most therapists would attest,
some of their sessions are better than others, even when they are working with
the same patients. This calls for a closer look at therapist factors that fluctuate
over time.
An understudied therapist state
variable is affect. Affective science has laid the foundation for therapists to
understand patients’ emotional functioning. Yet, how therapists’ affective
states are related to the psychotherapy process is unclear. Chui's study showed
that therapists who started sessions with more positive affect had better patient
ratings of session and working alliance, whereas therapists who began sessions
with more negative affect had worse patient ratings of session and working
alliance. Further research is needed to clarify how therapist affect influences
therapist responses and perception of patient concerns.
In the second part of the presentation,
Chui will provide an overview of other research interests and plans. In particular, Chui will highlight research on peer relationships in the graduate training
environment, and the development of a measure of non-symptomatic change in
psychotherapy.
Chui received a PhD in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland in
2014. He is currently working as a
postdoctoral research fellow and adjunct professor at Adelphi University in New
York. He is a candidate for an assistant
professor position in the Psychology Department.