The effect of therapist self-disclosure on patients, under induced expectations that disclosure is appropriate, was studied. Results implied that for therapist disclosure to facilitate client openness, a therapist must emphasize disclosure as a part of the professional role and as appropriate for effective psychotherapy. (NG)

A focused 5-year research program used a large number of clients (45), groups (10), and co-therapists (20) to assess group psychotherapy outcome in a homeogeneous diagnostic population (severly disturbed college student neurotics) and therapist-treatment modality (eclectic, interpersonal learning based, with insight and behavior change goals).…

Examined relation between general dimensions of psychotherapy process, rated with the Vanderbilt Psychotherapy Process Scale (VPPS), and a manual-guided psychotherapy, Short-Term Interpersonal Psychotherapy of Depression (IPT). VPPS-rated dimensions of patients and therapist behaviors were significantly correlated with IPT competence ratings.…

Considers counseling techniques of systematic desensitization, anxiety management training, systematic rational restructuring, and stress inoculation. Identifies unique and complimentary strengths of each technique with clients manifesting different types of anxiety. Provides both conceptual and research approaches to such an identification. (NB)

Reviews empirical studies, clinical case studies, and articles with treatment strategies and recommendations to examine diagnosis and assessment of client variables, therapist variables, and counseling process and outcome. Client variables cover such issues as the personality of language problems, the acculturation process, and counseling…

In response to William Coulson's article in the same issue, author feels that encounter groups are an attempt to undo the effects of civilization" by artificially helping people to throw off their inhibitionsc He feels the groups are a sociological phenomenon reflecting what people want and need, but that as yet they are caught up in hypocrisy…

Presents history of eclecticism as counseling point of view. Describes emerging eclecticism as promising counselor role. From theory and observation eclectic creates own evolving view of behavior change. Comments by E. J. Shoben, Jr. follow. (CJ)

Investigated impact of client and therapist gender on psychotherapy process and outcome. Clients, regardless of gender, agreed that women therapists formed more effective therapeutic alliances but both male and female clients of male therapists reported significant improvement as a result of therapy. (Author)

Explored the relationship between therapist-client compatibility, sex of therapist, and psychotherapeutic outcome. Results suggested the sex of therapist did not have a significant differential effect. There was no consistent effect between dyadic compatibility and sex of therapist. Differences in therapeutic outcome across levels of compatibility…

Compared studies predicting outcomes of psychotherapy. Level of prediction success in both projects was modest. Particularly for the rated benefits score, the profile of variables showed similar levels of success between the projects. Successful predictions were based on adequacy of personality functioning, match on marital status, and length of…

Examines the research literature concerned with the effectiveness of utilizing preset, explicit time limits in therapy. For better adjusted clients and certain counseling goals, time limited therapy (TLT) is as effective as time unlimited therapy (TUT), and provides satisfactory service and saves agency time. (Author)

Therapists responded to a videotaped simulated family as if they were treating it. Positive relationships were found between the ratings of expertise based on the coding system, and between independent ratings of the treated families' satisfaction with treatment and the status of the presenting symptoms six months after termination. (Author)

Some key ideological beliefs that typically inform and underlie "audit-mindedness" in counseling are critically examined. Presents positivist conceptions of the scientific method as aspects of early developmental experience. Considers the possibility of evaluating the efficacy of counseling and psychotherapy. Concludes by considering…

Explores whether components of brief interventions could be effectively administered to mixed groups of drinking and non-drinking students. Among at-risk drinkers, significant reductions in heavy drinking episode frequency at four-week follow-up were found for the self-norm group only. Results suggest that self-norm discrepancy enhancement…

Research on the effectiveness of counseling clearly shows that counseling is effective in relation to no-treatment and placebo control conditions. The effects of counseling, attained in relatively brief time periods, seem to be relatively lasting. There is little evidence or specific efficacy for particular techniques or counseling theories. (69…