Although emotion has long been considered important to psychotherapeutic process, empirical assessment of its impact has emerged only recently. The present study applied two meta-analyses to explore the association between therapist expression of emotion and psychotherapy outcome, and client expression of emotion and psychotherapy outcome. Overall, 66 studies (13 for the therapist meta-analysis and 43 for the client meta-analysis) were included. A significant medium effect size was found between the therapist’s emotional expression and outcomes (d = 0.56) and a significant medium-to-large effect size between the client’s emotional expression and outcomes (d = 0.85). Third-party rating of emotional expression emerged as a significant moderator of outcomes. Limitations of the research, diversity considerations, and therapeutic practices that conclude the article are then presented.

No abstract

This study used an observational research method to examine affective counselor–client exchanges during the initial session of counseling for clients who dropped out of counseling and clients who remained in counseling. Results confirmed significant differences in the affect codes of clients and counselors between the 2 groups. Discriminant function analyses classified 77% of counselors and clients in the correct groups and correctly classified over 94% of clients who returned for 4 or more sessions.

Although emotion has long been considered important to psychotherapeutic process, empirical assessment of its impact has emerged only recently. This chapter reports two meta-analyses on the association between therapist expression of emotion and psychotherapy outcome and client expression of emotion and psychotherapy outcome. A significant medium effect size was found between impact of therapist emotional expression and outcomes (d = 0.56, 13 studies) and a significant medium-to-large effect size client emotional expression and outcomes (d = 0.85, 43 studies). Third-party rating of emotional expression emerged as a significant moderator of outcomes. Limitations of the research, diversity considerations, and therapeutic practices conclude the chapter.

No abstract