Avoidance, vicious cycles, and experiential disconfirmation of script: Two new theoretical concepts and one mechanism of change in the Psychotherapy of depression and anxiety

Widdowson, MDJ

Abstract

This article presents an argument for the clinical and empirical relevance of case study material. Drawing on a series of systematic case studies based in Stiles 19s (2007) model of theory building, the author proposes adding the concepts of avoidance and vicious cycles to standard transactional analysis and offers case material to illustrate the usefulness of doing so. Avoidance and vicious cycles are proposed as key mechanisms in the maintenance of the client 19s problems, specifically depression and anxiety, but also in relation to other presenting problems. The article also proposes experiential disconfirmation as an active change mechanism in transactional analysis therapy whereby the therapist actively challenges the client 19s life script and promotes change at an experiential level. These concepts forge links between several transactional analysis concepts and provide a unifying framework for a range of TA therapy approaches.

Citation

Widdowson, M. (2014). Avoidance, vicious cycles, and experiential disconfirmation of script: Two new theoretical concepts and one mechanism of change in the Psychotherapy of depression and anxiety. Transactional Analysis Journal, 44(3), https://doi.org/10.1177/0362153714554207

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Dec 28, 2017
• Publication Date: Jul 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Oct 14, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Journal: Transactional Analysis Journal
• Print ISSN: 0362-1537
• Electronic ISSN: 2329-5244
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 44
• Issue: 3
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0362153714554207
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0362153714554207
• Related Public URLs: http://www.uk.sagepub.com/journals/Journal202209