Success and failure in client-centered therapy as a function of client personality variables.

Abstract

Cartwright (5) has presented evidence for the existence of a "failure-zone," ranging between 13 and 21 interviews, in client-centered therapy. In a subsequent paper, Taylor (25) presented closely comparable evidence with respect to psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy.Cartwright demonstrated that therapeutic outcomes were divided by the failure-zone and suggested that there may be two forms of therapeutic process, identifying these processes as "short" (1-12 interviews) and "long" (13-77 or more interviews). He further hypothesized (5, p. 362) "that certain individual differences between clients give rise to different kinds of therapeutic process."On the basis of these results and hypotheses, five client groups were distinguished: short success, 1-12 interviews; short failure, 1-12 interviews; failure-zone, 13-21 interviews; long success, more than 21 interviews; and long failure, more than 21 interviews. Utilizing this schema, Kirtner (12) hypothesized that therapy length-by-outcome is related to the personality structures of clients at the beginning of therapy. The present paper reports an investigation of this hypothesis. Method and Procedure SubjectsFrom the research files of the Counseling Center, University of Chicago, all clients were selected for whom the following four condi-1 This investigation is based upon a dissertation submitted by the senior author to the University of Chicago in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts.

The effects of meta-model questioning and empathic responding on concreteness in client statements and client ratings of anxiety and counselor attractiveness, expertness, and trustworthiness

“…Hamburg, Bibring, Fisher, Stan ton, Wallerstein, Weinstock, and Haggard (1967) in the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on central fact-gathering data of the American Psychoanalytical Association also found that highly anxious patients, as judged by therapists, are more likely to show progress. These findings are supportive of those of Kirtner and Cartwright (1958) and Luborsky (1962).…”

“…Four studies (Gottschalk et al, 1967;Hamburg et al, 1967;Kirtner & Cartwright, 1958;Luborsky, 1962) found that clients who were anxious in the initial interview were more likely to benefit from counseling.…”

The effect of pupil characteristics upon pupil perception of the teacher

“…Even Rogers (1959) has questioned the validity of his position on the basis of a study by Kirtner (1955) and suggested further verification would necessitate a revision of his theory. Which of the above positions is valid cannot be completely answered by this study, but the findings support the position that the teacher alone does not set the conditions for the quality of the relationship.…”

“…As was pointed out in the problem background, there are a number of different viewpoints regarding the influence of the teacher and the pupil upon their relationship, ranging from the teacher's being the primary influence to an interactional position where both teacher and pupil have an influence upon the teacher-pupil relationship. Even Rogers (1959) has questioned the validity of his position on the basis of a study by Kirtner (1955) and suggested further verification would necessitate a revision of his theory. Which of the above positions is valid cannot be completely answered by this study, but the findings support the position that the teacher alone does not set the conditions for the quality of the relationship.…”

Internal external locus of control and the choice of therapy

“…Most investigations have focused on client-counselor interaction (Rogers, 1957;Truaux, 1963). Others have focused on the client's characteristics (Rosenberg, 1954;Kirtner & Cartwright, 1958) and the counselor's attributes (Carkhuff & Pierce, 1967;Boulware & Holmes, 1970;Stillman & Resnick, 1972;Cimbolic, 1972). Still others contrasted different counseling approaches (Harris, 1954;Shlien, 1964).…”