title: Helpful and hindering events in psychotherapy: a practice research network study.
abstract: This paper presents the findings of a psychotherapy process study conducted within the Pennsylvania Psychological Association Practice Research Network (PPA-PRN). The investigation was the product of a long-term collaborative effort, both in terms of the study design and implementation, between experienced clinicians of various theoretical orientations and full-time psychotherapy researchers. Based on a relatively large sample of clients seen in independent practice settings, close to 1,500 therapeutic events (described by clients and therapists as being particularly helpful or hindering) were collected. These events were coded by three independent observers using a therapy content analysis system. Among the findings, both clients and therapists perceived the fostering of self-awareness as being particularly helpful. The results also point to the importance of paying careful attention to the therapeutic alliance and other significant interpersonal relationships. The merits and difficulties of conducting scientifically rigorous and clinically relevant studies in naturalistic contexts are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Penn State University.
authors.forename: Louis G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Castonguay
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Penn State University.
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Boswell
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stanford University.
authors.forename: Sanno E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Zack
authors.affiliation: Independent Practice.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Independent Practice.
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Boutselis
authors.affiliation: Independent Practice.
authors.forename: Nancy R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Chiswick
authors.affiliation: Counseling and Mental Health Center, University of Texas.
authors.forename: Diana D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Damer
authors.affiliation: Independent Practice.
authors.forename: Neal A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Hemmelstein
authors.affiliation: Independent Practice.
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Independent Practice.
authors.forename: Marolyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morford
authors.affiliation: Independent Practice.
authors.forename: Stephen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ragusea
authors.affiliation: Independent Practice.
authors.forename: J Gowen
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Roper
authors.affiliation: Independent Practice.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spayd
authors.affiliation: Counseling and Psychological Services, University of Georgia.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weiszer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Penn State University.
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Borkovec
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Friedrich Schiller University.
authors.forename: Martin Grosse
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Holtforth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006379:Helping Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D015588:Observer Variation; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D012649:Self Concept