In a message dated 98-07-13 11:40:33 EDT, [log in to unmask] writes:

<< those that experienced a greater
 range of emotions had more positive outcomes (Luborsky; Nixon, 1982)"
 ...[Some good level of anxiety is also helpful -- Meehl argues this is one
 of the main jobs of the "therapist".][And]"... there seems to be a general
 trend indicating that greater initial anxiety is related to better outcome
 (Kernberg, et al., 1972; Learner and Fiske, 1973)."

  BUT note:

 ..."*Neither* client client insight or self-exploration [(which
 basically includes "exploration of the past")] was [generally] related to
 successful counseling outcome (Morgan, et al., 1982; Luborsky)...."When
 clients were directed to attend to their affective states, it was
 sometimes, but not always helpful (Nichols, 1974)." "Little was
 accomplished when counselors used "immediacy", ...[and] under conditions
 of low empathy and genuineness this may even be harmful." [This is
 interesting, because "immediacy" is a skill that counselors-in-training are
 coached, again and again, to try to achieve and it is thought to be very
 important; but, it is considered an advanced or difficult skill (citation:
 Ivey, any year in the last 25).]..."[Somewhat similarly,] "confrontation"
 was often but not consistently found related to [positive]
 outcome"...It is not reliably
  >>
==My research into Somat Awareness shows three distinct styles, those who
readily and effortlessly attend to the information from their subtle body
sensations ("somats"), aka BB, those who are confused about their somats and
do not trust themselves, aka EE, and those who interpose intellect between
somats and emotional and behavioral responses, aka LL.  BB correlates very
highly with mental health and personal contentment;  EE correlates very highly
with measures of "Neurosis" and with personal discontent. (Somat awareness
styles are measured by SIPOAS, a 31 x 3 item pencil-and-paper measure,
validated on over 1000 subjects)

==I found that in over 800 subjects who responded, experience in body
therapies (eg dance therapy, Alexander/Feldenkrais/Trager, massage therapy)
correlated with higher BB scores than psychotherapy alone.  Experience with
spiritual disciplines (e.g. meditation) pushed up the mean BB score even
higher.  I explored the relationship of the three styles with 30 different
therapeutic styles, and was able to show the extent to which each therapy was
related to each of the three styles.  I also confirmed an estimate on which of
7 postulated component of any given therapy contributed to a higher BB score
--these included altered state of consciousness, focused attention to body
sensations, here-and-now re-experience of emotions . . .

Michael Bernet, Ph.D.
Institute for Somat Awareness
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