Transformance and the Phenomenology of Transformation

The Talk: Transformance, a central construct in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP), is the overarching motivational force driving positive change. Transformance is the clinical parallel of neuroplasticity in neuroscience (Fosha, 2010). A forward-moving, generative force, transformance fosters optimal growth and maximizes vitality and psychic energy. This energy resonates with that found in several ancient wisdom traditions. For example, transformance echoes the pervasive creative principle of change described in the ancient Chinese wisdom found in the Book of Changes (Wilhelm, R. & Baynes, C.F. 1967).

Within the framework of transformance, this paper will begin with a concise overview of the theory of change in AEDP, followed by a clinical case presentation illustrating how the principles are applied in psychotherapeutic treatment….. Read more here

Transformance: The AEDP Journal is the official journal of the AEDP Institute. Transformance has been published yearly since it’s inaugral  September 2010 and has published yearly since. It represented a quantum leap into a new era for a groundbreaking model of therapy that was introduced only 10 years earlier by Diana Fosha’s influential book, The Transforming Power of Affect: A Model for Accelerated Change. The publication also provided a much needed platform for disseminating the ever evolving advances, applications, and inspirations for the rapidly growing and highly productive AEDP community.   A quick scan of the titles will reveal the vast array of topics and the tremendous fount of clinical material, in the form of session transcripts, demonstrating the application of AEDP to clinical issues such as, eating disorders, sexual abuse, work with couples, addiction, racial trauma; methodological refinements such as, adjustments to attachment style, cultivating therapeutic presence; and innovation benefitting the general field of psychotherapy such as, harnessing termination as component of the healing process and the creation of an empirically validated model of short-term AEDP.  Additionally, Transformance has featured articles on cutting edge applications of neuroscience research as well as commentary on books and movies.