title: Increasing hope by addressing clients' outcome expectations.
abstract: Addressing clients' outcome expectations is an important clinical process that can lead to a strong therapeutic alliance, more positive treatment outcomes, and decreased rates of premature termination from psychotherapy. Five interventions designed to foster appropriate outcome expectations are discussed, including presenting a convincing treatment rationale, increasing clients' faith in their therapists, expressing faith in clients, providing outcome education, and comparing progress with expectations. Clinical examples and research support are provided for each.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA. joshua.keith.swift@gmail.com
authors.forename: Joshua K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Swift
authors.forename: Annie O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Derthick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003469:Culture; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D065026:Hope; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D013811:Psychotherapeutic Processes; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome