Acceptance, values, and therapeutic change.

Abstract

This article studied the role of therapist acceptance of patient values, patient acceptance of therapist values, and value persuasion on outcome among 13 psychotherapy dyads. A priori assessment of value acceptance was related to patients' perceptions of their therapists and ratings of improvement, with outcome being enhanced by selective value rejection as well as acceptance. A strong relationship (p < .01) was found between the patients' acquisition of their therapists' values and their ratings of improvement.

Mental Health Values of Psychotherapists: How Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Psychoanalysts, and Social Workers Conceptualize Good Mental Health

“…Several investigators have found that the degree of pre-treatment similarity in values between patient and therapist is predictive of Mark L. Haugen is a staff psychologist at Upper Mississippi Mental Health Center in Bemidji, Minnesota, John D. Tyler is a professor of psychology at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and James A. Clark is a research psychologist at Ohio Department of Mental Health in Columbus, Ohio. This article is based on a doctoral dissertation conducted by Mark L. Haugen under the supervision of John D. Tyler. psychotherapy outcome (Arizmendi, Beutler, Shanfield, Crago, & Hagaman, 1985;Beutler, Pollack, & [obe, 1978;Tyler, Clark, & Wittenstrom, 1989).…”

Predictive Validity of Patient and Therapist Attachment and Introject Styles

“…Patient and therapist similarity in demographics such as age, gender, race, and socioeconomic background, and values, such as wisdom, honesty, intellectual pursuits or knowledge, were correlated with positive outcomes (Arizmendi, Beutler, Shanfield, Crago, & Hagaman, 1985;Luborsky, Crits-Christoph, Alexander, Margolis, & Cohen, 1983;Jones, 1978;Jones, Krupnick, & Kerig, 1978;Beutler, Clarkin, Crago, & Bergan, 1991). However, patient/therapist dissimilarity on sense of personal safety (Beutler, Pollack, & Jobe, 1978), interpersonal treatment goals (Charone, 1978), and social status and friendships (Arizmendi, Beutler, Shanfield, Crago, & Hagaman, 1985;Beutler, Clarkin, Crago, & Bergan, 1991;Beutler, Arizmendi, Crago, Shanfield, & Hagaman, 1983;Beutler, Jobe, & Elkins, 1974) are related to more positive treatment outcomes.…”

Attachment Theory and Religiosity: A Summary of Empirical Research With Implications for Counseling Christian Clients

“…Although research on the client-counselor dyad has generally indicated that good matches in the areas of religion and philosophy of life produce more satisfying process and results, research has also indicated that dissimilarity in the area of interpersonal security is related to therapeutic improvements (Beutler, Pollack, & Jobe, 1978). In the early stage of the counseling relationship, a complementary interpersonal style of relating between therapist and client promotes and strengthens the therapeutic alliance; during the working phase, noncomplementary styles may be therapeutically indicated (Bernier & Dozier, 2002).…”