Evidence of clinically significant change: the therapeutic alliance and the possibilities of outcomes-informed care

Abstract

This article addresses the issue of clinically significant (or meaningful) change resulting from treatment for stuttering. Research in both medical and behavioral fields indicates that clients often have their own unique perspective of meaningful clinical change and that this perspective is often different from that of the professional administering the treatment. Among the variables that the client brings to the treatment session are their progression through stages of therapeutic change and the ways in which they believe they are capable of coping with their problem. Research has shown that how an individual interprets the meaning his or her therapeutic experience is central to clinically significant change. Procedures for obtaining feedback from clients concerning clinically significant change and the quality of the therapeutic alliance are described.