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The relationship between therapist and client hope with therapy outcomes
Timothy E Coppock1, Jesse J Owen, Elena Zagarskas
1Department of Psychology and Counseling, Gannon University, Erie, Pennsylvania 16541, USA. coppock001@gannon.edu
Summary
Therapist hope in clients predicts better therapy outcomes, while client hope levels do not directly correlate with symptom improvement in brief therapy. This highlights the importance of therapist optimism.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychotherapy Research
Background:
- Hope is a crucial element in therapeutic interventions.
- Understanding the roles of both client and therapist hope is essential for optimizing treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between clients' and therapists' perceptions of hope and therapy outcomes.
- To explore the relationship between hope and symptom change in brief therapy.
Main Methods:
- A naturalistic study involving 10 therapists and 43 adult clients undergoing brief therapy.
- Assessment of client-rated hope pre-therapy, post-first session, and at therapy termination.
- Measurement of therapist hope at the first and last sessions.
- Evaluation of symptom change as a measure of therapy outcome.
Main Results:
- Client-rated hope significantly increased after the first therapy session.
- No significant relationship was found between pre-therapy client hope and initial symptom change.
- Client hope levels at any therapy point did not significantly predict overall therapy outcomes.
- Therapist hope, assessed after the first and last sessions, was significantly associated with positive client outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Therapist hope in clients appears to be a significant predictor of successful therapy outcomes.
- Client-generated hope, while increasing during therapy, may not be a direct driver of symptom reduction in this context.
- Findings suggest focusing on fostering therapist optimism may enhance treatment effectiveness.
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