WHO (OR WHAT) CAN DO PSYCHOTHERAPY - THE STATUS AND CHALLENGE OF NONPROFESSIONAL THERAPIES

Research suggests that paraprofessional therapists usually produce eff ects that are greater than effects for control conditions and comparab le to those for professional therapist treatment. Other nonprofessiona l psychological treatments, such as self administered materials and se lf-help groups, have also demonstrated positive effects. Because of th e promise of these nonprofessional treatments, their potential for low -cost service delivery, and the important theoretical questions that s tudies comparing them can answer, psychotherapy outcome research shoul d shift away from comparisons of different professional therapies and instead compare nonprofessional therapies with professional therapy.