Work

What do psychotherapists really do in practice? An Internet study of over 2,000 practitioners.

Year: 2010

Type: article

Abstract: Over 2,200 North American psychotherapists completed a Web-based survey concerning their clinical work, including theoretical orientation, client characteristics, and use of specific psychotherapy techniques. Psychotherapeutic integration was common, with the majority of respondents identifying with more than one theoretical orientation or as having an eclectic orientation. The modal patient was a White female adult suffering from a mood or anxiety disorder and interpersonal problems. Individual psychotherapy was the preferred treatment modality. The most frequently endorsed techniques were relationship-oriented such as conveying warmth, acceptance, understanding, and empathy. The least frequently endorsed techniques were biofeedback, neurofeedback, body and energy therapies, and hypnotherapy. Efforts to disseminate empirically based therapies require understanding and accommodating clinicians' tendencies to integrate techniques.

Source: Psychotherapy

DOI: 10.1037/a0019788

Authors: Joan M. Cook, Tatyana Biyanova, Jon Elhai, Paula P. Schnurr, James C. Coyne

Institutions: Yale University, University of Toledo, Dartmouth College, National Center for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, University of Pennsylvania

Language: English

Topic: Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Mental Health