The Question as the Problem

• What is the Therapist's Role? by BOL Editor, 10/31/98
  • Role of the Therapist by Jeff M. Gold, LPC, NCC, 11/3/98
    • Re: Role of the Therapist by Jo Ann Lee, Psy.D., 11/5/98
      
      

Please struggle with me as I try to answer the question re: the role of the therapist as I fear that my response has the potential to generate confusion. To begin, I think the question is part of the problem as it focuses back on the therapist's role in the treatment process. Our review of the research indicates that it is the client's strengths and resources, their goals, their experience of the relationship, their stage of change, and their theory of change that really matters in terms of outcome. At the same time, the research also indicates that some therapists seem to be able to achieve great outcomes with their clients regardless of their training and experience while others are not. Finally, dismantling research indicates that the supposed "effective" elements or variables of existing models of therapy (e.g., challenging distorted cognitions in cognitive therapy, teaching skills in problem-solving therapy) are not responsible for change! Put all of this together and my answer re: the therapist's role is a resounding, "I don't know." However, rather than determining a priori what my role is based on my model, our team at ISTC makes determining the role the central task of the client-therapist dyad. In other words, my role is to work with the client to figure out my role. Given that the data privelages the client's experience of treatment over the therapist's, we have been using short reliable and valid measures to assess how well we are fitting in a role that the client would have us fit.

• What about the Maladaptive Role? by Mitchell W. Hicks, MA, 11/10/98
  • The client's theory of change by Scott D. Miller, Ph.D., 11/16/98
    • Negotiated theory of change? by Mitchell W. Hicks, MA, 11/16/98
      • Negotiated theory of change by Mark A. Arcuri, MA, 11/17/98
        • The Client's Theory II by Scott D. Miller, Ph.D., 12/16/98
          • Listening for the clients theory of change. by John S. Morrell, Ph.D., 1/16/99
          • A Theory by Mitchell W. Hicks, MA, 1/20/99
• RE:Therapist role and communication by vicki l. sullivan, 3/5/99