Emotion processing is an important factor for successful psychotherapy. Clients tend to suffer from maladaptive emotions, which contribute to states of confusion, rumination, and stagnation. The therapist should demonstrate adequate empathy and understanding of the client’s complaints to help the client to recognize and respect their own emotions and desires. In most cases, there is more than one desire, and each desire should be confronted. The compassionate self exercises are helpful to distinguish and integrate confused states. In this report, the author introduces a case in which the therapist helped a client to process emotional experiences by leading the client to pay attention to her own emotional responses. The client accessed multiple desires for each emotion and recognized the context for each. To integrate multiple desires and contexts, the therapist used multiple selves exercises from Compassion Focused Therapy. The compassionate self exercises play a role in integrating complicated emotions and in directing the client toward making an adequate choice independently. On its own, processing emotional experiences can induce adaptive and healthy desires; however, using compassionate self exercises helps the client to integrate complicated emotions and to approach their own values in a more direct way.
Emotions are one of the most important subjects in psychotherapy. In psychodynamic therapy, emotions toward other people are referred to as transference, which is a key concept of psychoanalysis, and interpreted as emotions which should be directed toward caregivers [
Understanding the means and influences of emotions can help clients to access their desires underlying each emotion and to shift to a compassionate state that will motivate them to choose the best way for themselves. Emotions are rooted in basic needs or desires; therefore, experiencing emotions can help clients to change their problematic emotional states and enable them to endure and address their emotions in a healthy way.
To help therapists to understand client’s emotions, emotions are separated into four types: adaptive primary emotions, maladaptive primary emotions, secondary emotions, and instrumental emotions in Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) [
The phenomenon of experiencing maladaptive primary emotions can be regarded as an uncontrolled activation of the threat system, which is one of the motivational and emotional systems in the context of CFT. CFT theory emphasises the importance of soothing when the emotional response related to threat is activated [
However, there are commonalities in the approach to such threat emotions in CFT and EFT, such as soothing emotions and validation from others. In CFT, therapists need to be compassionate toward the client’s experiences and demonstrate validation and warmth. Such attitudes can help clients to face painful emotions and shift to recognize the desires underlying these emotions, and they can work in a soothing function to regulate the threat system [
In addition, to understand complicated emotions such as maladaptive primary emotions, CFT therapists use the concept of multiple selves [
Furthermore, a compassionate self has wisdom, kindness, confidence, and courage, which can be a compass to guide one toward one’s own values like the captain of a ship [
This case report provides an example of a client with complicated maladaptive primary emotions. Therapy involved emotional processing and generating a compassionate attitude toward the problem through the therapist’s validation, as well as the use of empathetic response, multiple selves, and compassionate self exercises. The case report was approved by the ethical committee of the graduate school of medicine, Chiba University.
Julia initially applied to the research program of a clinical trial of group compassionate mind training (CMT) for treatment of residual depression. She was assessed based on study inclusion and exclusion criteria and met the criteria for enrolment. For participation, she brought a referral letter from her psychiatrist which stated that she appeared to have the ability to participate in a group format. To assess her symptoms, including the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the Japanese version of the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) [
Julia complained that she had trouble with her relationship with her parents and stated that she hoped to work in the future. She had started to go out to get used to being outside as part of graduated exposure. Regarding family relationships, she was often criticised for her behaviours at home, such as resting. Furthermore, if she expressed anxiety, her family members did not validate her feelings.
She was maltreated as a child and was frequently compared to her sister and told “you are not cute” or “you are a fool” by her mother. Unlike her mother, her father did not attack her, but he also did not provide help. She experienced terrible bullying in primary school which continued into junior high school. In high school and university, she was not bullied, but she had difficulty building relationships with friends. After graduating university, she looked for work but was unable to find a job. Her parents began to talk only about her unemployment, and she presented to a psychiatric clinic due to depression and panic attacks. After receiving group CMT as described above, she began to go out and her panic attacks disappeared.
The case formulation is displayed in Figure
Case formulation of CFT adapted from Kolts et al.’s work [
Based on this case formulation, validation for her emotional response was thought to be important. Receiving empathetic responses from others would help her to recognize and accept her own painful experiences and emotions. In addition, encouraging her to engage in social activities was thought to be effective in helping her achieve her goals. As she began to have new interactions with others, she would likely experience anxiety and resistance to relationships; however, such activation of anxiety and resistance is necessary for recovery. As a result, the therapist planned to promote social activities to distance her from her parents who attack her, and encourage her to learn age-appropriate social skills to help her mature. Social situations also provide opportunities for her to reconsider her safety behaviours and acquire coping strategies in nonharmful relationships.
The individual sessions were held once every two weeks. In the first individual session, Julia’s plan to go out was discussed. As Julia hoped to acquire PC skills, she planned to go study at a library and café. In the second session, she complained that she was confused and nauseous. In this section, we demonstrate an example of emotional processing and compassionate attitude by introducing the log from the second session. I am struggling with a problem. My stomach feels tight because I am so nervous. I received a message from a friend who was a classmate from high school. One of our friends will get married, so she contacted me to ask me to prepare a message card and photo of me for the celebration. However, I was betrayed by her before. I had thought that we had broken off a relationship when we were in high school. In fact, we didn’t have any contact for a long time. She is a friend who betrayed me. Of course, I would like to celebrate a friend who will get married; however, it is difficult for me to find the words except for “congratulations.” There is only one time we met after graduation from university. I can’t feel anything. A friend who betrayed me said to me that “you are too heavy.” So, I decided to distance myself from her. We met again in the university, but we didn’t have any chance to talk. There was a time when I sent her message to ask her advice, but she did not reply at all. So, I thought that she would not like to see me, she would like to refuse me, and I blocked her in social networking services. It was email from her, and I am so confused and in distress. In the email, she wrote “Let’s get together! We are living nearby!” I can’t imagine what she is thinking and feeling. She is so selfish. I think I can meet her. But, I won’t find any words when I met her (Cl. showed therapist messages). I don’t know how she is feeling in sending this email. This is the first email from her. I replied that “She is going to get married, isn’t she? The messages of celebration will be read in the wedding party?” After that, she sent me “Let’s play together.” I can’t imagine her intention. I received the email suddenly, she has already gotten married and had children, but I didn’t know about it at all. It is very complicated for me. I feel nauseous. I can’t imagine what she is thinking. Uh… I can’t imagine what is her intention. But, if I could behave like an adult, we might be able to mend the relationship. However, I wonder is that my hope? Actually, we are living in the nearby city. But, I will be able to find only the words “Your baby is so cute.” I can’t talk about my job, because I am not working. Of course, she is not familiar with depression, she said that the “Gloomy mood is hard for you.” I think she doesn’t know about depression or mental problems. I don’t know. I can’t imagine anger. I can’t understand anger now. I think it doesn’t make any sense what she is doing. So, I feel nauseous, and have a stomach ache. It might feel like disagreement and anger. I’d like to say “What are you saying?! ” You ignored my messages, what’s happened after marriage? I don’t know what she is saying. Why she can say so, I don’t know how to reply. I don’t know. I am feeling strong nausea from yesterday. I can’t imagine what should I do. Yes. We had a good relationship in high school. She was my best friend. But, after the separation of classes, she began to refuse me suddenly. I teared a letter from her. I think it was difficult for her to maintain our relationship, because we were in different classes. But, it is a painful memory for me and I have unbearable feelings. I have mixed feelings. I am feeling anger and would like to say, why could you change? You didn’t know my pain, did you? Yes. I can’t understand her. I wonder… it may be anger and I hope to resolve it in my heart. But, I don’t hope to meet her, so I am confused. Yes, I don’t want to meet her again. On the other hand, I wonder if I should repair the relationship and make friends. I think I should make friends for my recovery from illness. If possible, it is better for me to repair the relationship, but it is difficult for me to forgive, because I was hurt. I also know it is better for me to make more friends. Yes, my adult part thinks that I should have more friends, and my child part is struggling with pain and anger. My nausea might be rooted in the gap between them. I also think that if I could repair the relationship, I wonder if it isn’t good for me. I don’t absolutely hope to repair the relationship with her, there is part of me who thinks it is not necessary for me. Yes, I’d like to try it. I can feel anger and hope to forgive. But, I was not invited to the party… I am feeling anger again, why must I send a message without an invitation. If I asked about it to compassionate self, she might recommend me to send a photo and message, but what should I do about the relationship… I feel it does not matter for me to repair. However, I am happy to be asked to play. I had experienced painful bullying. When I was asked to play, I felt that “I am needed by others” and felt so happy. But, the anger is stronger than it now. Why now? Yes. I am feeling relaxed. I feel I should do what I need to do. The compassionate self recommended for me to send a photo and message. I will feel sorry for the absence of a message, I need to send it. However, when I talked to myself with the painful memory, she did not hope to repair the relationship and did not hope to meet the friend in high school again. I’d like to send the photo and message, but not to repair the relationship purposely. Yes, I’d like to say “see you again.” I am feeling good. It is hard to believe I had nausea. Yes! I was very surprised. I thought why do you know my email address? Yes. I noticed that pain does not disappear easily.
At first, Julia complained about her current problem which was caused by an email from an old friend. She was distressed and felt stomach pain and nausea. Such distressed states were caused by her painful experiences in the past. The therapist tried to help the client to identify her mixed emotions by asking questions about what she was feeling. Negative emotions have a function for blocking emotional processing; however, awareness of one’s own emotion can weaken its impact [
However, these desires were still complex and remained confusing. After Julia identified and distinguished each emotion from her complicated feelings, the therapist introduced the multiple selves concept from the CFT exercises. The multiple selves exercise is a useful method to respect each aspect of the self by shifting attention from one aspect to another aspect one at a time. This helps the client to recognize not only each desire, but also the complicated and confused self in a mindful way. In addition, compassionate self can help clients to integrate all aspects of the self into one direction which would indicate the best decision. In this case, Julia was advised by the compassionate self of what to do in a way that was in alignment with her values. This phenomenon is similar to reports that revealed the relationship between self-compassion and well-being or self-compassion and psychopathology [
In many cases, clients are suffering from mixed and confused emotional states, usually consisting of maladaptive emotions. To recognize and experience emotions in an adequate way can help such clients to process and sort out their emotions. The therapist needs to demonstrate empathy and understanding regarding their mixed and confused states and help them to pay attention to and process emotions in many ways. Emotional processing can lead the desires underlying emotions to the client’s subconscious and direct clients to make a healthy choice in alignment with one’s own values.
If the client has multiple desires, they can be thought as multiple aspects of the self. Each aspect has its own reasons and contexts, and therapists need to help clients to respect and understand each aspect of their desires. Understanding each aspect is a kind of cultivation of the compassionate self; therefore, noticing multiple selves can be the foundation of the compassionate self. The compassionate self can work as a captain of a ship who leads the crew (selves) to the best decision for all selves. The compassionate self helps the client to choose realistic and appropriate ways to integrate the client’s multiple concerns.
In conducting CFT, paying attention to emotions and desires is necessary and EFT techniques to process emotional experiences are useful. Moreover, compassionate self exercises can play a role in integrating confused or complicated emotions, to direct clients to adequate choices independently. Processing emotional experiencing can induce adaptive and healthy desires alone; however, using compassionate self exercise helps the client to integrate confused or complicated emotions and to more directly approach their own values.
There are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this article.
This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant no. 15K17289.