Supershrinks: What's the secret of their success?

Abstract

Clients of the best therapists improve at a rate at least 50 per cent higher and drop out at a rate at least 50 per cent lower than those of average clinicians. What is the key to superior performance? Are 'supershrinks' made or born? Is it a matter of temperament or training? Have they discovered a secret unknown to other clinicians or are their superior results simply a fluke, more measurement error than reality? We know that who provides the therapy is a much more important determinant of success than what treatment approach is provided. The age, gender, and diagnosis of the client has no impact on the treatment success rate, nor does the experience, training, and theoretical orientation of the therapist. In attempting to answer these questions, MILLER, HUBBLE and DUNCAN, have found that the best of the best simply work harder at improving their performance than others and attentiveness to feedback is crucial. When a measure of the alliance is used with a standardized outcome scale, available evidence shows clients are less likely to deteriorate, more likely to stay longer, and twice as likely to achieve a change of clinical significance.

Hidden in Plain Sight: The Active Ingredients of Executive Coaching

“…But there's hope for us. There is evidence that extraordinary psychotherapists—those with the best results, who are able to develop and maintain strong therapeutic relationships—are not born or made in graduate school, they are relentlessly self‐upgrading (Miller, Hubble, & Duncan, 2007). They engage continuously in a special kind of self‐development: deliberative practice (Ericsson, 2006).…”

Supervision As Pedagogy: Attending to Its Essential Instructional and Learning Processes

“…In their studies of the very best therapists, whom they termed "supershrinks, " Miller, Hubble, and Duncan (2008) found that they"without exception possess a keen 'situational awareness': They are observant, alert and attentive. They compare new information constantly with what they already know" (p. 19).…”

From referral to discharge: Young people and parents’ experience of a systemic paediatric psychology service

“…Therapists were experienced as having a willingness to help and listen. Miller, Duncan, & Hubble, (2008) The team are aware that the environment is a challenge with rooms often on the small side for larger family or network meetings and general issues about room availability which can impact on the therapist's ability to be flexible around appointment times. This has been fed back to hospital management.…”