NOTICING PRETREATMENT CHANGE AND THERAPY OUTCOME - AN INITIAL STUDY

This research specifically examined the brief-solutions concept of pre treatment changes (changes clients make between the initial phone call and the first therapy session). The impact of noticing pretreatment c hanges as a therapeutic intervention on the outcome variables of unpla nned termination, relationship functioning, good attainment, problem s olving, and communication was explored. Limited support was found for the hypotheses that noticing pretreatment changes influences unplanned termination and that pretreatment changes remain persistent in many c lients' lives. Mixed results were found for the hypothesis that notici ng pretreatment change influences the other outcome variables. Implica tions and ideas for future research are discussed.