Transformative emotional sequence: Towards a common principle of change

Transformative emotional sequence (TES) is proposed as a common principle of therapeutic change underlying a number of therapies: Emotion-focused therapy (EFT), coherence therapy (CT), accelerated experiential-dynamic psychotherapy (AEDP), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). TES consists of emotional activation of a problematic emotional state followed by the activation of adaptive emotional state(s) within a short window of time. The resulting change is the creation of a permanent connection between previously unintegrated maladaptive emotional memory networks and adaptive emotional networks. Memory reconsolidation provides a plausible explanation for the mechanism underlying the effectiveness of TES. I compare TES to exposure, and argue that it is the intervention of choice for transforming maladaptive emotions, whereas exposure is most appropriate for accessing disowned and avoided experiences.

Journal

English

Hans Welling

Welling, H. (2012, June). Transformative emotional sequence: Towards a common principle of change. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 22(2), 109 -136. doi:10.1037/a0027786