[The personality of the psychotherapist and its contribution to the treatment process]

Abstract

The therapist's activity is a highly personalized form of medical action. However, it is still unclear to which extent the personality of the therapist or his acquired technical skill bear the responsibility for his contribution to the treatment process. The present state of process-outcome research contributes a host of results which may stimulate further clinical considerations. Especially the distinction of private features and personalized handling of the therapeutic process is relevant. The importance of self analysis or training therapy in this respect is controversial; the discrepancy between results of formal research and prevailing clinical notions is breathtaking.