Elevator Pitch | Sign your Feelings

My Elevator Pitch

I would like therapists to join my randomly controlled trial (RCT) to help me test the beta version of my new intervention, Sign your Feelings. Therapists enrolling in the study are compensated for their time (for more information click here).

The study combines the following three elements:

Firstly, it involves hearing therapists teaching Sign Language to hearing clients.
No other therapeutic intervention does this.

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Paleolithic evidence shows that visual-based language existed long before the advent of auditory language. (1)

The switch from manual to facial and vocal expression reached its present level of autonomy only recently, with our species, Homo sapiens. (2)

Secondly, it places the therapeutic alliance, therapeutic ruptures, and repairs center stage.
No other therapeutic intervention does this.

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There is a clear link between a healthy therapeutic alliance and positive client outcomes. (3)
A lack of a healthy therapeutic alliance can lead to client dropout, deemed a serious problem in psychotherapy. (4)

It is "not uncommon for 50 % of clients to leave counseling without prior knowledge and agreement of their counselors." (5) Although not all client dropout cases are caused by ruptures in the therapeutic relationship, finding ways to prevent and repair ruptures within the therapeutic alliance would still be beneficial.

(1) Stokoe (2001)

(2) Corballis (2012)

(3) and (4) Barrett et al., 2008; Weisz et al., 1987; Wierzbicki & Pekarik, 1993; as cited in Chen et al., 2017)

5) Pekarik (1983; & Phillips, 1985; as cited in Shick Tryon, 1999, p. 285)

(6) Colombetti (2019)

(7) Kircanski et al. (2012, p. 1086)

(8) Hook and Andrews (2005, p. 425)

Thank you for 'listening' to my elevator pitch!!!!

Thirdly, it provides a systematic method to prompt client emotional disclosure on a wide range of emotions and concepts anchored in Positive Psychology.
No other therapeutic intervention does this.

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Putting one's feelings into words changes them through the very act of clarification. (6)

“Affect labeling can reduce limbic responses to negative emotional stimulation via a neurocognitive feedback mechanism." (7)

Disclosure of feelings can have positive implications for the effectiveness of treatment. (8)

My Elevator Pitch

Firstly, it involves hearing therapists teaching Sign Language to hearing clients. No other therapeutic intervention does this.

Secondly, it places the therapeutic alliance, therapeutic ruptures, and repairs center stage. No other therapeutic intervention does this.

Thank you for 'listening' to my elevator pitch!!!!

Thirdly, it provides a systematic method to prompt client emotional disclosure on a wide range of emotions and concepts anchored in Positive Psychology. No other therapeutic intervention does this.

Firstly, it involves hearing therapists teaching Sign Language to hearing clients.
No other therapeutic intervention does this.

Secondly, it places the therapeutic alliance, therapeutic ruptures, and repairs center stage.
No other therapeutic intervention does this.

Thirdly, it provides a systematic method to prompt client emotional disclosure on a wide range of emotions and concepts anchored in Positive Psychology.
No other therapeutic intervention does this.