Planned and Actual Goals in Psychodynamic Psychotherapies: Do Patients' Personality Characteristics Relate to Agreement?

The current study examined planned and actual goals in psychotherapy. Personality differences of clients were investigated using the Rorschach for two groups in which the therapists' goals either agree or do not agree before and after the therapies. Patients for whom the agreement was high were characterized by a high degree of psychological distress, problems in self-perception, openness in expressing feelings, and a good capacity for introspection. Patients for whom the agreement was low were characterized by a low stress tolerance, a poor capacity for social interaction, and an excessive control of emotional discharge. The results suggest that the possibility of carrying out the psychotherapeutic treatment according to a plan is related to the same personality characteristics that have been shown to be related to good therapeutic outcome. The question was raised as to whether it is advisable to use additional assessment instruments, such as the Rorschach, for patients with personality characteristics that hinder the therapists' understanding of their psychological problems.