The building of models as pathway to understand the therapeutic process

The present work highlights the necessity to re-think the paradigmatic, methodological and theoretical assumptions which for a long time have regulated the practices of research in the field of the study of therapeutic processes. Following this suggestion, and commenting on Ribeiro and Gonçalves (2011), and Faccio, Centomo and Mininni (2011), I highlight the need to reframe the therapeutic change research in terms of a modelling approach. According to such perspective models arise through focusing on the general rule of the functioning of a change process within the local domain of a particular therapeutic encounter, making it possible both to manage it in line with the specific local aims, and to promote the deepening and the develop of scientific knowledge. This is a step towards a new research perspective able to promote the integration of empirical research and clinical practice.