Patients' representations of psychotherapy: A new focus for psychodynamic research.

Presents a psychodynamic framework and research methods for investigating the significance of patients' internal representations of therapy-with-their-therapists. In this article, 2 instruments developed for this purpose (Therapist Representation Inventory and Intersession Experience Questionnaire) are introduced, and their psychometric characteristics are described. Also, findings from a series of studies conducted with these instruments are summarized. Finally, the types of questions these instruments appear to be well suited to are proposed for addressing in future research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)