Helpful and hindering events in psychotherapy: A practice research network study.

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of a psychotherapy process study conducted within the Pennsylvania Psychological Association Practice Research Network (PPA-PRN). The investigation was the product of a long-term collaborative effort, both in terms of the study design and implementation, between experienced clinicians of various theoretical orientations and full-time psychotherapy researchers. Based on a relatively large sample of clients seen in independent practice settings, close to 1,500 therapeutic events (described by clients and therapists as being particularly helpful or hindering) were collected. These events were coded by three independent observers using a therapy content analysis system. Among the findings, both clients and therapists perceived the fostering of self-awareness as being particularly helpful. The results also point to the importance of paying careful attention to the therapeutic alliance and other significant interpersonal relationships. The merits and difficulties of conducting scientifically rigorous and clinically relevant studies in naturalistic contexts are also discussed.

Revisiting Practice-Based Research Networks as a Platform for Mental Health Services Research

“…The Pennsylvania Practice Research Network (PPRN; Borkovec et al 2001) was started by a clinical researcher and a clinical practitioner in the 1990s and was initially supported by funding from the APA and the Pennsylvania Psychological Association. To date, this PBRN has conducted two studies examining therapist and client characteristics, client progress during outpatient therapy, and specific events within therapy that are helpful or hindering to client progress (Borkovec et al2001; Ruiz et al 2004; Castonguay et al 2007) and is preparing to launch a third examining the impact of providing session-by-session feedback to therapists about the techniques their clients find most helpful (Parry et al2009). Therapists and Researchers: Advancing Collaboration (TRAC) is a practice research network that began in 2003 as a therapist advisory group to help guide the development and execution of a specific practice-based research study of usual care practices for children with disruptive behavior problems (Garland et al 2006).…”

Addressing challenges and barriers to translating psychotherapy research into clinical practice: The development of a psychotherapy practice research network in Canada.

“…Castonguay and colleagues (2013) provide an extensive review of PRN research conducted around the world, including the Pennsylvania Psychotherapy PracticeResearch Network (Castonguay, Boswell et al, 2010;Castonguay, Nelson et al, 2010). PRN research tends to be organized around common practice settings like university clinics, specific disorders like substance abuse, or professional organisations (Castonguay et al, 2013).…”

Cognitive analytic therapy at 30

“…Large-scale pragmatic trials (Goodyer 2011) also offer a methodology in harmony with Ryle's original research ambitions for CAT. Practice-research networks (Castonguay 2010) would also enable the rapid development of large-scale data-sets, given the increasing and enduring popularity of CAT in routine clinical practice. Use of the CCAT in future CAT RCTs is an essential component for benchmarking the integrity of the CAT delivered.…”