THE EFFECTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPIST AND IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE-RESEARCH

A body of research concerning psychotherapy outcome is reviewed with t he intent of establishing the importance of the individual psychothera pist to treatment process and outcome. Although particular therapy tec hniques have not been shown to be especially important in therapy proc ess and outcome, they have been the focus of most research and trainin g for the past two decades. in the past, extensive study of the indivi dual therapist was difficult, but the rising trend of managed health c are organizations has created opportunities to conduct research on thi s topic. Hypothetical outcome data for individual clinicians are prese nted in graphical form. An attempt is made to show how patient typing can be used to adjust outcome by Ease-mix methods. suggestions for fut ure research are made.