Assessment & Treatment
Focused on the critical aspects of assessment and treatment in psychotherapy, this section offers resources, guidelines, and discussions on effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to improve client outcomes.
277 articles found
Progress Feedback and the OQ-System
Abstract A serious problem in routine clinical practice is clinician optimism about the benefit clients derive from the therapy that they offer compared to measured benefits. The consequence of seeing the silver lining is a failure to identify cases that, in the end, leave treatment worse-off than when they started or are simply unaffected. It […]
Michael J. Lambert, Ph.D.
December 13, 2015
Clients’ Perspectives on Treatment Failure
Despite our best efforts as therapists or supervisors, some clients will fail to improve while in treatment. A significant amount of research has been conducting seeking to identify the client, therapist, treatment, and process variables associated with client change. A number of methods have been developed to decrease the number of clients who stay the […]
Joshua K. Swift, Ph.D.
October 25, 2015
A Developmental Model for Healthy Individuation of the Transgender Client
Informed by the author’s 37 years of clinical experience with transgender individuals, this article presents an introductory model for clinicians who provide depth psychotherapy to this population. The author points out that primary concerns of transgender individuals in psychotherapy are often the same as most people; yet developing their transgender self without the “mirroring” from […]
Wei-Chun “Vivi” Hua, Psy.D.
September 24, 2015
Critical Considerations in Writing Letters for Trans Clients
Consider the following scenario: a client you have been working with for over a year comes into your office and says “I have something to tell you—I’ve been waiting to let you know for a long time. I am a trans man and I would like your help to transition.” Of course, first reactions from […]
Stephanie L. Budge, Ph.D.
September 13, 2015
5 Lessons Learned Monitoring Psychotherapy Process and Outcomes
A recent body of psychotherapy research is converging on the benefits of using client process and outcome feedback in clinical practice (Lambert & Shimokawa, 2011). Continual client feedback, also known as “routine outcomes monitoring,” “progress monitoring,” or “practice-based evidence,” refers to the collection of self-report data (e.g., symptoms, well-being, and the therapeutic alliance) from clients […]
Alexandra Savela, M.S.
August 16, 2015
Improving Expertise in Psychotherapy
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Terence J. G. Tracey, Ph.D., ABPP + 3 more
July 8, 2015
Why Religion Needs a Seat at Psychotherapy’s Table
Adapted excerpt from “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Christians with Depression: A Practical, Tool-Based Primer” book in preparation. Buy your copy here: https://www.templetonpress.org/book/cognitive-behavioral-therapy Does Religion Belong in Psychotherapy? This question is posed by a lot of mental health practitioners. Here’s the short answer: If religion is important to our clients, religion will be part of psychotherapy whether […]
Michelle J. Pearce, Ph.D.
July 2, 2015
Clinicians’ Emotional Responses and Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual Adult Personality Disorders
Abstract The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between level of personality organization and type of personality disorder as assessed with the categories in the Psychodynamic Diagnostic Manual (PDM; PDM Task Force, 2006) and the emotional responses of treating clinicians. We asked 148 Italian clinicians to assess 1 of their adult patients […]
Francesco Gazzillo + 6 more
June 7, 2015
Attachment Theory and the Psychotherapy Relationship
In 1988 John Bowlby published a groundbreaking collection of his lectures and essays. He inspired a generation of researchers by asserting that the therapist-client relationship has key features in common with parent-child attachments. Roughly coinciding with the 25th anniversary of Bowlby’s book, four meta-analyses have recently been published. These articles and other summaries take stock […]
Brent Mallinckrodt, Ph.D.
May 31, 2015
Psychodynamic Case Consultation
Watch the Recording Here Psychodynamic Case Consultation with Jon Frederickson, MSW from Internet Editor on Vimeo. Information about the Webinar In the case consultation, we will discuss problem cases where therapists are feeling stuck in the work. We will work together to find out which patient behaviors are blocking therapeutic progress and then suggest strategies […]
Jon Frederickson, M.S.W.
May 4, 2015
Ethical Considerations When a Client Crosses Sexual Boundaries
I’ll never forget the day that a friend of mine quoted a professor from my university: “The only way you can screw up as a psychologist is by having sex with your clients. As long as you don’t do that, you’re set!” Forgive the crass language, but the words and tone used at the time […]
Ashley Herbst, M.S.
April 30, 2015
Reflections on Mental Health Professionals Working with Divorcing Parents Outside the Courtroom
Divorce is major event in the life cycle of the nuclear family. It has the potential to be traumatic and, in some circles, is even referred to as, “The death of the family.” Families torn apart, and parents (with their attorneys) as adversaries, are common to this process that is often described as a “war”. This tends to […]
Jeffrey Zimmerman, Ph.D., ABPP
April 12, 2015