Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP)

Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) is an efficacious but complex treatment.

The current study tests the effects of a brief intervention program based on the contextual therapies (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy a

Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) is a type of psychotherapy often described as "process-based" because treatment targets are idiographically defined, and intervention strategies are specified in behavioral principles. Recently, refinements have been made to the idea of process-based therapy (PBT) that incorporates an extended evolutionary meta-model (EEMM). The present discussion articulates how FAP fits into current conceptualizations of engaging in PBT. I argue that embracing a PBT approach to treatment can enhance therapeutic outcomes by expanding the conceptualization of clinically relevant behaviors to be viewed as a series of interrelated processes.

A variety of contemporary cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) frameworks have collectively converged on acceptance of emotion as a therapeutic process central to producing positive outcomes. However, evidence shows that not all patients respond to these treatments, such as those with more severe and complicated symptomatology and more entrenched emotion avoidance tendencies. Intensive short-term dynamic psychotherapy (ISTDP) is a specific, highly active, emotion-focused model of therapy grounded in empirical research that was designed to treat complex patients with entrenched emotion avoidance behaviors.

Process-based therapy has received attention in recent years and seeks to advance our understanding of mechanisms of change in behavioral health interventions. A process-to-outcome research approach was employed to examine the mechanism of change and treatment effects of Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP). A non-concurrent multiple baseline design was conducted with three clients who endorsed psychological distress and interpersonal difficulties. FAP's mechanism of change was tested with a lag sequential analysis. Statistical analysis for single-case designs was performed to assess between and within-participant treatment outcomes.

In efforts to decrease psychological distress, psychotherapy frequently focuses on a client's intimate relationships and connectedness with others. One contextual-behavioral approach, Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP), aims to do so by employing the therapeutic relationship to shape improvements in the clients' in-session interpersonal behaviors. In a recent randomized trial of a FAP intervention for dyads who wanted to improve their relationships (Kanter et al., 2018), clients who presented with fear of intimacy were specifically taught in-session interpersonal skills to improve intimate behaviors and connectedness within dyads and reduce related fears.

The Awareness, Courage, and Responsiveness Scale (ACRS) is the first measure created to assess a contextual-behavioral model of Intimacy, rooted ini the Functional Analytic Psychotherapy. The objectives of this study were to adapt to Spanish the ACRS and to analyze its psychometric properties in non-clinical samples from Spain. The scale adaptation was carried out using three independent forward and backward translations. Data was collected from two sub-samples of participants: college students (n = 254) and health professionals (n = 120). A part of the students (n = 93) responded to the ACRS in a reevaluation phase to assess its stability over time.

High quality relationships are essential to psychological health and well-being, and relational intimacy is a core feature of these relationships. Decades of research in relationship science have converged on a central model of intimacy wherein individuals develop close, trusting relationships with one another. Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) is a contextual behavioral intervention approach that is well-equipped to target interpersonal processes through the provision of in-session, therapist mediated reinforcement of skillful intimate relating. Single-subject level analyses of FAP's efficacy and mechanism of action are supportive; however, there is a need for group-level research to evaluate its efficacy and generalizability.