Psychological therapy as viewed by clients and therapists

Abstract

Results are presented from a study in which 40 therapist-client pairs were asked to record, after each session of psychological therapy, their views concerning the helpful and unhelpful events which took place. On termination they were asked to describe their views of the helpful and unhelpful events in retrospect, and to report on outcome. A total of 1076 events was collected from 399 therapy sessions, and was content analysed using Elliott's Therapeutic Impact Content Analysis System. Results showed that during therapy the types of event most frequently reported by clients were reassurance/relief and problem solution events, whereas therapists reported the clients' gaining of cognitive and affective insight. After termination, both participants reported the importance to the client of personal contact. Many of the differences between the two perspectives were highly significant, although more differences were found when outcome was poor. It is suggested that different aspects of the therapeutic process have a different degree of salience for therapists and clients, in that clients are most interested in gaining a solution to their problems and feeling better, whereas therapists are more concerned with the aetiology of the problem and its transformation through insight. The implications of these differences are discussed.

First session solution‐focused brief therapy with families who have a child with severe intellectual disabilities: mothers' experiences and views

“…Non-verbal data noted during the actual interview also Source: Adapted from Llewelyn, 1988;Llewelyn et al, 1988. informed the analysis. The fullest account was selected and reread several times.…”

TA Treatment of Depression: A Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design Study - ‘Luisa’

“…The client also completed the Helpful Aspects of Therapy form (HAT) (Llewelyn, 1988) at the end of each session. The HAT allows the client to describe hindering or useful aspects of the therapy and to rate them on a nine-point scale (1=extremely hindering, 9=extremely useful).…”

TA Treatment of Depression: A Hermeneutic Single-Case Efficacy Design Study - ‘Penelope’

“…The client also completed the Helpful Aspects of Therapy form (HAT) (Llewelyn, 1988) at the end of each session. The HAT allows the client to describe hindering or useful aspects of the therapy and to rate them on a nine-point scale (1=extremely hindering, 9=extremely useful) Therapist Notes A 'structured session notes form' (Widdowson, 2012a, Appendix 6, p. 50-52) was completed by the therapist at the end of each session.…”