Research on psychotherapy has consistently revealed that a portion of the variance in positive outcomes can be explained by therapist variables. Examination of clients preferences for certain therapist characteristics has led to inconsistent results further complicated by differences in participant characteristics. This study on therapist characteristics examines relationships between student-preferred therapist characteristics and demographic information provided by participants in their survey responses. Therapist characteristics under investigation include counseling style and approach to treatment, level of experience and training, and demographic information. This study also validates an online survey as a quality method of investigating university students preferences for therapist characteristics through the use of a one-parameter Rasch Item Response Theory model of analysis. Results from this study suggest that the Web-based survey employed was a quality method of collecting data on student preferences for therapist characteristics. Results also indicate that student prefer a well educated therapist of advanced training who is a good listener, makes them feel comfortable and is nonjudgmental. Finally, results suggest that student preferences for certain therapist characteristics are influenced by student demographic information and previous counseling experiences.

We assessed the relationship between several therapist variables and treatment outcome by examining the predictive power of therapist training/demographic characteristics, therapist competence and treatment integrity, and therapist style, to child outcome in a sample of 279 youth who participated in the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Multimodal Study (CAMS). All youth participated in 14 sessions of CBT (randomly assigned either with medication or without) delivered by trained therapists. Youth across both treatment conditions experienced significant treatment gains with youth in the CBT+MED and CBT only conditions showing greater gains than those in the placebo group. Therapist (a) prior clinical experience and (b) prior anxiety-specific clinical experience were significant predictors of treatment outcome across both parent- and diagnostician- rated measures. Higher levels of prior clinical experience predicted better outcome; higher levels of anxiety-specific experience were less favorable. Therapist treatment integrity, competence, and a collaborative style were also predictive of outcome. Therapists who were more collaborative and empathic, followed the treatment manual, and implemented it in a developmentally appropriate way, had youth with better treatment outcomes. Clinical implications and recommendations for future research are discussed. / Psychology

Given the importance of client characteristics and preferences, and therapist expertise to evidence-based practice in psychology, the current study sought to contribute to the literature concerning the role of values in psychotherapy. Personal values of clients and trainee therapists in 29 dyads were examined for relationships between client and therapist values and associations with working alliance and outcomes. Although previous literature in this area has suggested that successful therapy is characterized by an increase in similarity of client and therapist values, the current study did not replicate this finding. However, client perceptions of therapist values were found to be important to working alliance and outcome. Findings are discussed in terms of suggestions for future research as well as implications for clinical practice, including the importance of discussing expectations and preferences with clients.

Evidence-based psychotherapeutic methods compete with each other, while meta-analysis have shown that variability due to different methods related to outcome is remarkably low. In this qualitative study six former patients were interviewed about experiences of method and technique in Affect-focused therapy, with a slight overweight towards unsatisfactory experiences. Responses were analysed and categorised in emergent themes. Methodological focus on affect showed to be a much appreciated, as well as insufficient, element. Alongside positive experiences or summaries of therapy, methodological frames were felt to be at times restrictive, even invalidating, as far as not allowing focus on what was felt to be the more predominant need. These needs were varied and individual; e.g. more/less of undetermined space free of preconceptions, more/less focus on affect, more direction forward, or more space for existentially oriented aspects. Results found good support in previous research except for a strong validation of therapists, even when aspects of therapy had been severely problematic. Experiences of applied method differed extremely among participants. The study highlighted lack of relation between method and outcome, and that positive regard of therapy and alliance were not synonymous with good outcome. Prominent themes were quality of methodological focus on affect and of therapeutic relationship, basic humanistic values, and individual factors of variance. Future research was suggested to focus on integration of methods, on therapists’ common factors, as well as on issues of power in the therapeutic relationship.