Navigating the landscape of self and emotion, and bridging the experience of
self in relation to others, emotion-focused therapy (EFT) is a humanistic-experiential
psychotherapy that has demonstrated efficacy in treating depression (Greenberg et al.,
1990; 1998) and social anxiety (SA; Elliott et al., 2013). At the heart of social anxiety lie
numerous conflicting self-identities, rooted in enduring feelings of inadequacy and
shame. Adopting a deleterious self-critical stance, the array and complexity of inimical
self-actions underscores the debilitating nature and therapeutic challenges of SA. While
existing literature on the self-relationship has examined the global self-concept and
constructs such as perfectionism and self-criticism, there remains a significant gap in
comprehensively understanding and effectively measuring negative treatment of self
(NTS).
Drawing on archival data from SA clients undergoing EFT, this three-part mixedmethod study aimed to achieve several objectives: (a) evaluating the reliability and
validity of the Self-Relationship Questionnaire (SRQ; Faur & Elliott, 2007); (b)
comprehensively mapping the manifestations of NTS within-therapy discourse; (c)
testing and validating the rational-empirical model of NTS proposed by Capaldi and
Elliott (2023); and (d) exploring the amelioration of NTS observed by the conclusion of
therapy.
The findings confirmed the SRQ as a reliable and valid instrument for assessing
the self-relationship. The analysis extended beyond mapping the nuances of NTS
therapy discourse, exploring its multifaceted dimensions, including self-dislike,
detrimental self-actions, and their emotional effects, providing comprehensive insights
into NTS. The empirical validation of the rational-empirical model of NTS was
supported and expanded upon. The observed decrease in NTS by therapy's end further
enhanced the model, highlighting significant improvements in client discourse about
the self-relationship.
| Date of Award | 6 Jan 2025 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Awarding Institution | - University Of Strathclyde
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| Supervisor | Robert Elliott (Supervisor) & Stephen Kelly (Supervisor) |
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