This study presents the results of an evaluation of two cohorts of trainees who had completed a 2-year training program in family therapy. The 15 trainees were assessed in the areas of perceptual/conceptual, intervention/executive skills and personal development both pre- and post-training. Although the group results showed skill acquisition in all areas assessed, the individual results revealed a complexity in performance glossed over by the group analysis. Trainees' learning commenced from different baselines, advanced at different rates, and there was a marked discrepancy between self-reports of improvements (or otherwise) and the results of the observer-rated measures. We recommend that increasing attention be paid to individual differences in learning styles in training and in evaluation.

In this evaluation of therapy experience for 82 families by brief therapy at Bouverie Clinic to 1976–1977, therapists' and clients' rating of outcome were obtained. After termination of therapy both therapists and clients reported high improvement rates in the presenting problem(s) as well as in the quality of family relationships and in the family's ability to deal with further problems. High agreement was found between therapist’ and clients' ratings of outcomes. Therapists were more favorable than clients in their ratings of change in the presenting problem and in their ratings of change in the quality of family relationships, but not in assessing the change in family's further problem solving ability. At follow‐up clients were predominantly satisfied with their therapy experience. In addition, therapists' ability to predict outcome accurately, after the second of therapy, was strongly supported by our finding.

A follow‐up study of 83 families treated by family therapy at a child guidance clinic was conducted and the relation of client/therapist interaction to (i) drop out from therapy and (ii) improvement was examined. Early terminators were found to differ significantly from continuers as to their ratings of their relationship with the therapist, and trends were found for therapists' feelings to be associated with adherence to therapy. Early terminators were not distinguished by diagnosis, severity of case, or improvement rating. Improvement, on the other hand, was not associated with therapists' or clients' attitudes to each other. It is suggested that these factors are of greater significance in “joining” therapy than in its course.

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