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Therapist effects on dropout in couple therapy
Kwin L Willis1, Richard B Miller2, Shayne R Anderson2
1Mending Ways Counseling, Richmond, UT, USA.
Journal of Marital and Family Therapy
|January 28, 2021
Summary
Therapist effects significantly impact couple therapy outcomes, accounting for 9.4% of dropout variance. Further research is needed to identify specific therapist characteristics that improve clinical success in couples therapy.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Marriage and Family Therapy
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Scholars emphasize the therapist's role in successful couple therapy.
- Empirical evidence on therapist effects in couple therapy outcomes is limited.
- Understanding therapist contributions is crucial for improving treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically assess the variance attributed to the therapist in couple therapy outcomes.
- To investigate the impact of therapist effects on couple dropout rates.
- To explore potential predictors of therapist effects, such as gender and experience.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 1,192 couples treated by 90 therapists at a university clinic.
- Utilized multilevel analysis to determine variance in couple dropout.
- Controlled for initial couple impairment when assessing therapist effects.
Main Results:
- Therapists accounted for 9.4% of the variance in couple dropout.
- Therapist gender and experience did not significantly predict therapist effects.
- Significant therapist effects on couple dropout were observed.
Conclusions:
- Therapist effects play a significant role in couple therapy outcomes, specifically dropout.
- Findings support the importance of therapist contributions beyond initial couple factors.
- Future research should explore specific therapist characteristics and behaviors influencing success.
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