Skills and methods that work in psychotherapy: Observations and conclusions from the special issue

Abstract

We draw recommendations and conclusions from the articles presented in this special issue and the companion special section in Psychotherapy Research on evidence-based therapist skills and methods. For distal (end-of-treatment) outcome, 10 skills/methods were judged to be demonstrably effective (affirmation/validation, paradoxical interventions, homework, routine outcome monitoring, strength-based methods, emotional regulation, imagery rehearsal therapy and exposure relaxation and rescripting therapy for nightmares, meditation/mindfulness/acceptance, behavioral activation, cognitive restructuring) and four were probably effective (rupture repair, role induction, collaborative assessment methods, chairwork). For intermediate (postsession or midtreatment) outcome, one method was judged to be demonstrably effective (cognitive-experiential dreamwork) and two methods probably effective (paradoxical interventions, homework). For immediate (in-session) outcomes, five skills/methods were judged to be probably effective (in-dialog silences, extended silences, role induction, strength-based methods, and emotion regulation). For the rest of the immediate, intermediate, or distal outcomes for skills/methods, there was either no or insufficient research available upon which to base judgments. Possible harmful effects, diversity considerations, and research limitations are summarized. The article ends with training implications, therapeutic practices, and the formal conclusions of the interorganizational Task Force on Psychotherapy Skills and Methods that Work. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).