Finding a qualified marriage and family therapist that the couple or family will be comfortable with requires some effort on the part of the consumer. There are many people out there who advertise themselves as marriage counselors or family therapists but do not have the credentials. The client must shop around, interview prospective therapists,…

Short-term therapy is effective by focusing the therapy and employing an interactive style. However, the imposition of an arbitrary termination date appears to be an overreaction and overcorrection to drawbacks of classical psychotherapy. According to Mann, a proponent of termination dates and short-term therapy, the setting of a termination date…

Referral and initiation of psychotherapy for children and adolescents are decisions most frequently made by others. To investigate the nature of minors' participation in treatment decision making and the relationship between such participation and motivation, adjustment, and outcomes, the behaviors and attitudes of 42 youths (32 male, 10 female,…

The present study was concerned with relationships among three different methods of evaluating psychotherapy outcome: final status scores, pretreatment to posttreatment difference scores, and direct ratings of global improvement. Similarities and differences among these relationships and those previously reported in the literature are discussed.…

Describes two studies examining the relationship between locus of control and structure of group therapy. Results suggest that external clients may achieve the most significant therapeutic benefits from a structured therapist intervention within a spaced time format, while internal clients may require a therapist model of minimum control and…

This study investigated some relationships between the verbal behavior of 20 experienced therapists and their therapist effectiveness. Forced oral responses to a taped therapy interaction were obtained and analyzed. Each dependent variable was correlated against a rating of a therapist's effectiveness. Findings are discussed. (Author)

Degree of choice or options in language has been posited as being relevant to the psychotherapy process. To investigate the relationship of this concept to the course of therapy and to therapy outcome, 67 15-minute segments from six cases of individual psychotherapy were transcribed and the language of the clients was coded according to variables…

Describes National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) workshop (March 1986) which invited 14 psychotherapy researchers to consider key issues associated with psychotherapy integration. Discusses recommendations developed to initiate a research program encompassing conceptual clarification, efficacy studies of systematic eclectic therapies, the role…

Used a meta-analysis to integrate the research literature on the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Antidepressants, such as clomipramine, and behavior therapy have produced appreciable changes in obsessive-compulsive and depressive symptoms. The effects of tricyclic medication and exposure therapies have not differed significantly, but…

Publicly funded psychiatric inpatient institutions focus increasingly on stabilization and relapse prevention, readying patients for rapid community reentry. Growing emphasis on consumer satisfaction and professionals' accountability for efficient outcomes has coincided with increasing cost concerns. Since staffing limitations mandate innovative…

Examined the acceptability of four therapeutic models (i.e., behavioral, psychoanalytic, systems, and eclectic) used in treatment of marital discord. Subjects (N=88) evaluated four treatment sequences as they applied to a marital case history. Results showed that, among varying treatments, behavioral and systems approaches were rated more…

Studied 15 adolescent runaways in an inpatient long-term treatment setting. Results showed that more runaways were male, and most were away only a short time. In many cases, behavior improvement resulted. Impulsive behavior and anxiety were related to the short time and distance of elopement. (Author/JAC)

Compared Black and White patients who were seen in individual psychotherapy. Obtained assessments of treatment outcomes from therapists. White therapists generally rated their clients, especially Black clients, as psychologically more impaired than did Black therapists. Contrary to expectation, there were no differences in psychotherapy outcome as…

How to provide meaningful services effectively to the greatest number of people has become the counselor's dilemma. Groups are one alternative that holds promise for the future. This considers rationale of groups, possible types of groups, blocks to starting groups, professional preparation, and bibliography of useful material. (Author/BEF)

No significant differences between beginning and advanced clients of either school were found. Clients from the two schools differed significantly from each other, however, and appeared to be drawn to a theory by their personality. (Author)