The Slaying of a Beautiful Hypothesis: The Efficacy of Counseling and the Therapeutic Process

Abstract

Although the efficacy of counseling has been empirically linked to the therapeutic process, the emphasis in much of the literature remains on technique use. This article discusses 3 components of therapeutic efficacy (i.e., common factors, working alliance, and counselor attributes) and provides implications for counselors and counselor training.

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“…However, a common component of both frameworks is the therapeutic relationship (Budd & Hughes, 2009;Chambless & Hollon, 1998;Duncan et al, 2010;Hauser & Hays, 2010;Rosenzweig, 1936).…”

The Working Alliance and Experiences of Clients and Counselors‐in‐Training

“…Research has suggested that counseling works regardless of therapeutic modality or theoretical orientation (Hauser & Hays, ; Nelson & Neufeldt, ; Wampold et al, ). There is relatively little difference in treatment outcomes or success rates among the different treatment models and theoretical approaches (Horvath & Greenberg, ).…”

“…In humanistic practice, the understanding and examination of the counseling process through a common factors lens is widely accepted (Hauser & Hays, ). Common factors consist of extratherapeutic events, which account for 40% of change in therapy; therapeutic relationship, which accounts for 30% of change; hope and expectancy, which account for 15% of change; and therapeutic technique, which accounts for 15% of change.…”

A meta-analytic review of the relationships between the therapeutic alliance, empathy, and genuineness in individual adult psychotherapy.

“…The concept dates back to Freud's (1913Freud's ( /1958 (Baldwin, Wampold, & Imel, 2007;Hauser & Hays, 2010).…”

“…Some theories of psychotherapy view the therapeutic alliance as one of the strongest mechanisms of change (Barrett-Lennard, 1962;Rogers, 1957;Wampold, 2001), while other theories believe the alliance is necessary for change, but not a primary mechanism of change (Leichsenring, Hiller, Weissberg, & Leibing, 2006). Bordin's (1979) pantheoretical definition of the alliance receives continued use in recent research (Baldwin, Wampold, & Imel, 2007;Hauser & Hays, 2010). …”