RELEVANCE AND MEANING OF THERAPISTS CONTROL

Control of the therapeutic process by the therapist (or the patient) i s a theoretically controversial concept, and even the empirical findin gs are inconsistent. One reason is a difference in the way to understa nd the construct control. A two-dimensional system to distinguish the various variables of control is proposed. Three different operational definitions of control, each differentiated for therapist and patient, are compared within the framework of cognitive-behavioral treatment o f 30 phobic patients. The three measures of control result in three co rrespondingly different curves through the three stages of therapy. Th ey do not correlate with each other and they have different relationsh ips to the success of treatment. The impression of having control is a n indicator of a global positive or negative appraisal of the therapy and not an indicator of actual control.