TABLE 3.
Helpful aspects of therapy: description and illustrative quotes of significant positive and hindering events.
| Description | Illustrative quotes | |
| Positive events (n = 92) | ||
| Insight/Self-awareness/Self-knowledge (n = 35) | The individual becomes more aware of his/her feelings, cognitions and behaviors. Developing a clearer understanding of himself/herself, others and situations. Development of a new perspective on one’s personal reality. | It was positive because it made me see that there are so many things that ultimately had no importance, and there are others that never get to talk (p1s2). One of the comments made me wonder if my excess weight is not an escape from unwanted looks (p5s4) |
| Empowerment/Positive Self-perception (n = 6) | Development of personal competence to deal with problematic situations. Feelings of strength, development and personal value. Positive expectations and evaluations of oneself. | You can do it (p2s5) Realize that I am much more than my weight and I have everything I want in life (p1s12) Gaining awareness of who I am (p7s10) |
| Problem clarification (n = 13) | The individual relates a clearer understanding of his/her problems or what he/she wants to change; What goals to achieve becomes clear to the individual, how to handle situations. | Explain the behavior that mostly influenced the process of getting fat (p3s3) Realizing what is really important, what are priorities (p5s12) |
| Emotional experience (n = 5) | The individual stresses the externalization of feelings as the most significant aspect in the session. Experience “here and now” new or old emotions, in a new perspective. | I have talked about my feelings and I have cried (p3s7) It is good to speak out on a matter so delicate (p1s1) |
| Program characteristics (n = 15) | Positive overall assessment of the session/positive appraisal techniques in the session | The way the session was conducted broke the ice and facilitated the creation of the group (p6s1) Making the Road Map (p7s2) Relaxation (p3s11) |
| Group factors (n = 18) | Cohesion feelings, support, safety and well-being related to the group. Feeling understood by the group; relativizing problem by comparison with another; feelings of group identity, universality and mutual aid. | The host of the group in terms of feeling heard; the openness to change by all (p3s1) It was very interesting to talk of dietary mistakes by sharing ideas that lead people to become more aware (p6s3) Realize that there are those who think and feel the same as we do (p2s6) |
| Hindering events (n = 4) | ||
| Unwanted thoughts/feelings (n = 4) | Discomfort with the experiences that occurred in the session, particularly something that has been said or something that was experienced. | Not being very comfortable when I must talk about my own feelings (p4s1) I feel at this point that I will not come again (p1s8) |
p0s0 – participant 0, session 0.