Changing one's life story: A retrospective multiple case study

A retrospective study of multiple cases was conducted to examine whether a therapeutic interview guide used as an intervention tool facilitated changes in beliefs, behavior and attitudes. The intervention was intended to help clients modify fixed beliefs that perpetuate self-destructive patterns of behavior and was conceptualized as "rewriting the code" or "recoding" behavior. The technique of "a point in time" regression through hypnosis and progressive relaxation was utilized to access memories of a traumatic experience that occurred at one of three stages in time: earlier in adulthood; childhood (prior to age 6) or a presumptive past life. Regression techniques were utilized to enable the clients to access traumatic events that may have been mistakenly interpreted at the time and may have led to maladaptive patterns of behavior.; The research question that was addressed in this retrospective case study was: Can "rewriting" and/or "recoding" one's life story produce changes in a client's behavior and attitudes? Seven subjects were included in the study, each of whom completed a series of seven 2-hour sessions. The effectiveness of an individualized intervention (therapeutic interview guide) designed to assist clients obtain insight into fixed beliefs and how they negatively affect behavior was examined. A series of items based on the International Classification of Functioning of the World Health Organization was administered and responses were compared to those obtained prior to the intervention in order to measure whether changes in beliefs and behaviors occurred.; Improvement was shown by the seven subjects in all three categories of functioning (Emotional Functioning, Interpersonal Relationships, and Economic Competence) between the time of the pre-test and the post-test. Improvement in the areas of emotional functioning and interpersonal relationships was highly significant. The subjects were able to reunite with many family members from whom they had become estranged and were able to exchange their negative view of situations for a more positive outlook on life. They were also able to relinquish relationships which had proved to be personally destructive or to re-establish close relationships that had been broken off. This method is recommended as a therapeutic tool to change destructive beliefs and behavior patterns and improve overall functioning, particularly among clients who have been unable to obtain a successful outcome with other forms of therapy.