Skills and Methods That Work in Psychotherapy

Abstract

This chapter reviews how authors have defined and assessed skills and methods and outcomes. The results of judgments of outcomes in terms of being demonstrably, probably, neutral/mixed, or insufficient research are presented for 27 pantheoretical psychotherapy skills and methods at the immediate, intermediate, and distal levels of outcome. Evidence was found for demonstrable or probable effectiveness of one of eight skills and 16 of 19 methods. Limitations of studies include the lack of inclusion of moderators given that we know that all these skills and methods work for some clients but not others, lack of attention to the context and complexity of psychotherapy, the need for more studies of distal than immediate outcomes, low power, and lack of attention to diversity and harmful effects. Implications for training and practice are described. Conclusions are drawn including the need for more research, especially in terms of immediate outcomes and qualitative methods.