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EMPIRICALLY SUPPORTED THERAPY RELATIONSHIPS: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE DIVISION 29 TASK FORCE
STEERING COMMITTEE1
'Steven J. Ackerman (student member), Lorna Smith Benjamin (University of Utah), Larry E. Beutler (University of California-Santa Barbara), Charles J. Gelso (University of Maryland), Marvin R. Goldfried (SUNY-Stony Brook), Clara Hill (University of Maryland), Michael J. Lambert (Brigham Young University), John C. Norcross (chair), David E. Orlinsky (University of Chicago), and Jackson Rainer (liaison to Publication Board)
Conclusions of the Task Force
- The therapy relationship (as defined in the opening article) makes substantial and consistent contributions to psychotherapy outcome independent of the specific type of treatment.
- Practice and treatment guidelines should explicitly address therapist behaviors and qualities that promote a facilitative therapy relationship.
- Efforts to promulgate practice guidelines or evidence-based lists of effective psychotherapy without including the therapy relationship are seriously incomplete and potentially misleading on both clinical and empirical grounds.
- The therapy relationship acts in concert with discrete interventions, patient characteristics, and clinician qualities in determining treatment effectiveness. A comprehensive understanding of effective (and ineffective) psychotherapy will consider all of these determinants and their optimal combinations.
- Adapting or tailoring the therapy relationship to specific patient needs and characteristics (in addition to diagnosis) enhances the effectiveness of treatment.
- The following list embodies the task force conclusions regarding the empirical evidence onGeneral Elements of the Therapy Relationshipprimarily provided by the psychotherapist. Definitions and examples of each element are provided in the respective articles.
Demonstrably Effective
Therapeutic Alliance
Cohesion in Group Therapy