Research
DSA was developed as a method for psychotherapy process research. Association members actively conduct research using DSA.
Clinical Research
The effectiveness of the DiaSek® method has been studied in a randomised clinical trial at Päijät-Häme Central Hospital's psychiatry clinic in 2015–2016. The study compared DiaSek® assessment to conventional psychiatric assessment, with 40 patients in each group.
DiaSek® proved significantly more client-centred: patient-assessor agreement on treatment goals, methods, and collaboration quality reached 0.63 (Spearman's Rho), compared to 0.26 in conventional assessment.
Results were published in the European Journal of Mental Health.
From 2015, a two-year developmental training programme was implemented in collaboration with Nuorten Ystävät ry and the University of Oulu, applying DiaSek® in youth services.
DSA-Intelligence
A research project developing AI-assisted Dialogical Sequence Analysis tools. The project combines machine learning and expert knowledge to support DSA analysis.
NIPRT — Nordic Institute for Psychotherapy Research and Training
Publications
General Presentations on DSA, DiaSek and Dialogical Guidance
Valkonen, H. (2015). Dialoginen sekvenssianalyysi ilmaisujen tutkimisen mikroanalyyttisenä menetelmänä — perusteita ja tutkimustuloksia.
In Toimijuuden tuki: dialoginen ohjaus (pp.105). University of Eastern Finland.
Theoretical Research and Theory Development
Leiman, M. (2024). Semiotic object relations theory (SORT) as the basic CAT theory.
In Brummer, L. & Cavieres, M. & Tan, R. (Ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Cognitive Analytic Therapy. Oxford University Press.
Dias Neto, D. & Leiman, M. (2021). Two levels of meaning elaboration in psychological research.
Theory & Psychology, 31, 446–450.
Leiman, M. (2012). Dialogical sequence analysis in studying psychotherapeutic discourse.
International Journal for Dialogical Science, 6(1), 123–147.
Leiman, M. (2004). Dialogical Sequence Analysis.
In Hermans, H.J.M. & Dimaggio, G. (Eds.) The Dialogical Self in Psychotherapy. Brunner-Routledge, pp. 255–269.
Leiman, M. (2002). Toward semiotic dialogism: The role of sign-mediation in the dialogical self.
Theory & Psychology, 12, 221–235.
Leiman, M. & Stiles, W. (2001). Dialogical sequence analysis and the zone of proximal development as conceptual enhancements to the assimilation model: The case of Jan revisited.
Psychotherapy Research, 11(3), 311–330.
Leiman, M. (1997). Procedures as dialogical sequences: A revised version of the fundamental concept in Cognitive Analytic Therapy.
British Journal of Medical Psychology, 70, 193–207.
Leiman, M. (1994). Projective identification as early joint action sequences: A Vygotskian addendum to the Procedural Sequence Object Relations Model.
British Journal of Medical Psychology, 67, 97–106.
Leiman, M. (1992). The concept of sign in the work of Vygotsky, Winnicott and Bakhtin: Further integration of object relations theory and activity theory.
British Journal of Medical Psychology, 65, 209–221.
DSA as a Method in Psychotherapeutic Change Research
Tikkanen, S. (2025). Lapsen tutkimusprosessi muutostapahtumana vanhemman kannalta.
Psykologia, 51, 58–63.
Savolainen, J., Lindfors, O. & Leiman, M. (2023). Individual target problems, self-observation and change in short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy, 54, 1–9.
Valkonen, H. (2019). Epävakaiden potilaiden itsehavainnoinnin laatu (Lectio Praecursoria).
Valkonen, H. (2018). The dynamics of self-observation in patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) diagnosis.
Gersh, E., Leiman, M., Hulbert, C., McCutcheon, L., Burke, E., Valkonen, H., Tikkanen, S. & Chanen, A. (2017). Alliance rupture and repair processes in borderline personality disorder: A case study using dialogical sequence analysis.
Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 31.
Gersh, E., Hulbert, C., Leiman, M., McCutcheon, L., Burke, E., Valkonen, H., Tikkanen, S. & Chanen, A. (2017). The relationship between formulation, self-observation and the alliance process in psychotherapy for BPD.
International Journal of Cognitive Analytic Therapy and Relational Mental Health, 1, 71–98.
Tikkanen, S. (2015). Development of an empathic stance: Dialogical sequence analysis of a single case during child neurological assessment procedures.
Tikkanen, S. (2015). Katsaus kognitiivis-analyyttisesta psykoterapiasta tehtyyn tutkimukseen.
Zonzi, A., Barkham, M., Hardy, G., Llewelyn, S., Stiles, W. & Leiman, M. (2014). Zone of proximal development (ZPD) as an ability to play in psychotherapy.
Psychology and Psychotherapy, 87.
Tikkanen, S. & Leiman, M. (2014). Resolution of an impasse at a network meeting — Dialogical sequence analysis of the use of a shared formulation.
Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 27, 154–173.
Tikkanen, S., Stiles, W. & Leiman, M. (2013). Achieving an empathic stance: Dialogical sequence analysis of a change episode.
Psychotherapy Research, 23.
Leiman, M. (2011). Mikhail Bakhtin's contribution to psychotherapy research.
Culture & Psychology, 17(4), 441–461.
Tikkanen, S., Stiles, W. & Leiman, M. (2011). Parent development in clinical child neurological assessment process: Encounters with the assimilation model.
Psychotherapy Research, 21, 593–607.
Stiles, W., Leiman, M., Shapiro, D., Hardy, G., Barkham, M., Detert, N. & Llewelyn, S. (2006). What does the first exchange tell? Dialogical sequence analysis and assimilation in very brief therapy.
Psychotherapy Research, 16, 408–421.
DSA as a Therapist's Tool
Kivikkokangas, S. & Enckell, H. (2020). DSA psykoterapeutin työvälineenä.
Psykoterapia-lehti.
DSA in Supervision
Leiman, M. (2015). DSA in supervision.
Special Applications of DSA
Kaunisto, S.-L., Estola, E. & Leiman, M. (2013). 'I've let myself get tired' — one teacher's self-reflection process in a peer group.
Reflective Practice, 14.
Research and Presentations Reported in Finland and Internationally
Kivikkokangas, S. & Leiman, M. (forthcoming). Dialoginen sekvenssianalyysi — kliinisen kuuntelemisen menetelmä.
Vastapaino.
Savander, E. (2019). Implementation of dialogical sequence analysis as a case formulation for the assessment of patients at a community mental health centre: Randomized controlled pilot study.
Savander, E., Weiste, E., Hintikka, J., Leiman, M., Valkeapää, T., Heinonen, E. & Peräkylä, A. (2019). Offering patients opportunities to reveal their subjective experiences in psychiatric assessment interviews.
Patient Education and Counseling, 102.
Savolainen, J.S. (2017). Yksilölliset kohdeongelmat ja muutos lyhytpsykoterapiassa: Dialoginen sekvenssianalyysi muutoksen arvioinnissa.
Pro gradu. University of Helsinki.
Tikkanen, S. (2014). Formulation during the child assessment process.
Reformulation — Theory and Practice in Cognitive Analytic Therapy. Summer 2014.
Lahti-Nuuttila, P. (2011). Dialoginen sekvenssianalyysi (DSA) päiväsairaalapotilaan muutoksen arvioinnissa.
Licentiate thesis, psychology, University of Helsinki.
Leiman, M. (2011). CAT as integrative therapy.
4th International CAT Conference, Kraków, Poland.
Savolainen, J. (2011). Changes in observer position during short-term cognitive analytic group.
Poster, 4th International CAT Conference, Cracow, Poland.
Tikkanen, S. (2011). Using case formulation by DSA in analysing parent development — a case description.
Paper, 4th International CAT Conference, Cracow, Poland.
Torppa, M., Timonen, O., Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi, S., Larivaara, P. & Leiman, M. (2006). Patient-nurse-doctor interaction in general practice teleconsultations.
Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 12, 306–310.
Texts
This page contains links to texts and studies presenting the content and development of dialogical sequence analysis. The page is updated gradually, every few months.