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Method of Levels: initial steps in assessing adherence and the development of a qualitative framework for mapping clients' control hierarchies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 September 2009

Timothy Bird ,
Warren Mansell  and
Sara Tai
Timothy Bird
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
Warren Mansell*
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
Sara Tai
Affiliation:
School of Psychological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK
*
*Author for correspondence: Dr W. Mansell, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, School of Psychological Sciences, Coupland I, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. (email: warren.mansell@manchester.ac.uk)
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Abstract

Method of Levels (MOL) is a form of cognitive therapy based on Perceptual Control Theory (PCT). This paper presents the initial steps towards four methods of establishing the validity of MOL. First, the session was rated by two independent experts for its adherence to MOL using a newly developed 6-item scale based on the Cognitive Therapy Rating Scale. Second, each therapist utterance within a session of MOL was coded and categorized in terms of the therapist's goal to test for adherence to the two specified goals of MOL. Third, a macroanalysis of a MOL session utilizing interpretative phenomenological analysis hypothesized the control hierarchies involved in a client's presenting problem and their zones of conflict. Fourth, a microanalysis of a brief interchange between the therapist and client explored its adherence to PCT. These methods of establishing validity are introduced and explored for later use in larger scale studies. The limitations of the present study and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Keywords

Common factorscontrolformulationqualitative methodstherapist competence
Type
Original Research
Information
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist , Volume 2 , Issue 3 , September 2009 , pp. 145 - 166
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2009

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References

Recommended follow-up reading

Carey, TA (2006). The Method of Levels: How to Do Psychotherapy Without Getting in the Way. Hayward, CA: Living Control Systems.Google Scholar
Mansell, W (2005). Control theory and psychopathology: an integrative approach. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory Research and Practice 78, 141–178.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed

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