What Clients of Couple Therapy Model Developers and Their Former Students Say About Change, Part I: Model‐Dependent Common Factors Across Three Models

Abstract

Some researchers have hypothesized that factors common across therapy models are largely responsible for change. In this study we conducted semi-structured, open-ended qualitative interviews with three different MFT model developers (Dr. Susan M. Johnson, Emotionally Focused Therapy; Dr. Frank M. Dattilio, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy; and Dr. Richard C. Schwartz, Internal Family Systems Therapy), Dr. Johnson and Dr. Schwartz's former students, and each of their former clients who had terminated therapy successfully. We examined possible common factors in our qualitative data analysis. Common factors fell into two main categories of model-dependent factors and model-independent factors. This article-the first of two-reviews the model-dependent common factors, common elements found across three distinct therapies. They include common conceptualizations, common interventions, and common outcomes, each with several subcategories. We discuss the clinical, training, and research implications of the results.

Is Who Delivers the Treatment More Important than the Treatment Itself? The Role of The Therapist in Common Factors

“…In spite of the significant role of therapists in therapeutic change, the research literature (reviewed below) points to significant gaps in our knowledge. We still know surprisingly little about the variables and characteristics that exemplify a skilled and effective marital and family therapist (MFT; Holmes, 2006), and we know even less about how these therapist variables interact with varying therapy approaches, clients, or presenting problems (Davis & Piercy, 2007a, 2007b).…”

Sistema de observação da aliança em terapia familiar versão auto‑resposta (SOFTA‑s)

“…Ao longo dos anos, têm sido realizados estudos que identificam os fatores comuns associados à mudança nas diferentes abordagens psicoterapêuticas (Davis & Piercy, 2007;Drisco, 2004;Sexton, Ridley, & Kleiner, 2004). Neste sentido, tem sido defendida a existência de um conjunto de fatores ou mecanismos de mudança transversais a todas as terapias, os quais, de um modo geral, remetem para a relação terapêutica, as características do cliente, as características do terapeuta e as expectativas em relação ao processo terapêutico (Davis & Piercy, 2007;Hubble, Duncan, & Miller, 2006;Lambert, 1992;Sprenkle, Davis, & Lebow, 2009 2004; Sexton et al, 2004), sendo esta evidência corroborada por vários estudos (Escudero, Friedlander, Varela, & Abascal, 2008;Johnson, Wright, & Ketring, 2002;Knobloch -Fedders et al, 2004;Quinn, Dotson, & Jordan, 1997).…”

Intensive Family‐of‐Origin Consultation: An Intergenerational Approach

“…Clients appear to benefit from having a model of human behavior which enhances their understanding of healthy functioning, how problems develop over time, and what might be done to resolve or at least evolve these problems so they might be more manageable (Davis & Piercy, 2007a, 2007b. Clients appear to benefit from having a model of human behavior which enhances their understanding of healthy functioning, how problems develop over time, and what might be done to resolve or at least evolve these problems so they might be more manageable (Davis & Piercy, 2007a, 2007b.…”

“…Interestingly, in spite of the paucity of attention given to the intergenerational approach in the literature, a family-of-origin perspective regarding the etiology and development of problems seems to be a core factor across different therapeutic models of couple and family therapy (Davis & Piercy, 2007a, 2007b. The family-of-origin framework also has been helpful in the training of therapists, especially with greater attention being paid to the "self of the therapist" in training programs (e.g., Aponte, 1992).…”