Life similarities in PCA: A process-oriented examination of therapist responsiveness in a single-case study
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- This study examines how Life Similarities (LSs)—biographically grounded commonalities between therapist and client—shape therapist responsiveness within the Person-Centered Approach (PCA). LSs are conceptualized as emergent, process-driven phenomena extending beyond demographic matching to include shared experiences of trauma, identity and adversity. A mixed-method, case study process design integrated Comprehensive Process Analysis (CPA; Elliott et al.,1994) and Primary Response Modes (PRM; Elliott et al.,1987) coding to investigate a four-year, 51-session therapy between a queer, person-centered psychotherapist and a homosexual Orthodox priest. Significant Events (SEs) involving LSs were identified, transcribed, and analyzed qualitatively for relational and emotional texture and quantitatively for verbal response patterns, with descriptive statistics and data visualizations generated using SPSS. Findings indicated that LSs influenced therapist responsiveness through both facilitative and challenging pathways: LSs activation often deepened empathic attunement and relational authenticity but also introduced risks of over-identification and countertransference tension. Across time, the therapist’s verbal responses shifted from interpretation toward increased reflective listening, emotional containment and tolerance of silence. By reframing LSs as dynamic relational catalysts rather than static traits, this study addresses longstanding empirical gaps and demonstrates the value of integrating process-sensitive qualitative and quantitative approaches. Results highlight the importance of case-study research in informing the ethical and effective navigation of LSs in clinical practice.