Psychotherapy research, the recovery movement and practice-based evidence in psychiatric rehabilitation

This article reviews the literature on psychotherapy outcome research and discusses the relationship between those findings and the tenets of the consumer-driven recovery model. The research provides compelling evidence for practitioners to abandon the current emphasis on diagnosis and theory, model, and technique in favor of a partnership with clients that leverages the common factors and places emphasis on the alliance. Empirical support of the shortcomings of evidence-based practices is provided. Use of outcome and alliance feedback to inform the work and shift to practice-based evidence is offered as a practice that is informed by the research and honors the recovery model's call for consumer-driven mental health services.