InterAct - Intersession Activities in Psychotherapy

Study Coordinator: Gvantsa Jinashvili, M.Sc.

Principal Investigator: Professor Birgit Watzke

The research series "InterAct - Intersession Activities in Psychotherapy" focuses on psychotherapeutic processes that take place outside the actual therapy session in the patients' daily lives. The transfer of therapeutic contents in the patients' environment is an essential part of psychotherapy. This becomes particularly apparent when comparing the time spent in therapy (usually one hour per week) with the remaining waking hours of the patient. What happens during the time outside of therapy sessions regarding progress in psychotherapy and how do patients transfer important processes into their everyday lives?

We are interested in specific and intentional processes, such as die realisation of certain plans or therapeutic exercises, but also in diffuse and spontaneous processes, such as thoughts and reflections about the therapy or the therapist. 

Within the framework of a transdiagnostic investigation of intersession activities, following questions are addressed in the project series: 

• How can intersession processes be assessed in a valid and reliable manner? 
• Which factors influence intersession processes and how can intersession processes be promoted? 
• What is the impact of intersession processes on treatment outcome? 

Ongoing Projects:

AkThiv - Generic Smartphone App to Support Intersession Activities in Psychotherapy

EVALIS - Evaluation of a smartphone app to support intersession processes in psychotherapy.

Completed Projects:

SmUV - Social and Motivational Support for the Implementation of Intentions to Enhance Mental Well-being in Everyday Life

FAcTh - Focus Groups on Intersession Activities in Psychotherapy from the therapists' view

SUmBA – Writing as a Strategy to Cope with Stress in Daily Life

Are you interested in the project series and would like to know more about the current and new InterAct-projects? Are you interested in a collaboration regarding InterAct? We look forward to hearing from you by contacting us here.