Homework as a driver of change in psychotherapy

Area of Science:

• Psychotherapy research
• Clinical psychology
• Behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapies

Background:

• Between-Session Homework (BSH) is a traditional and integral component of various psychotherapy approaches.
• Its application varies significantly across therapeutic stages and requires tailored therapist-client dynamics.
• BSH is a sophisticated clinical methodology demanding high therapist competence for client engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present diverse modalities of integrating BSH in clinical practice.
• To emphasize the role of BSH and its interplay with change mechanisms in psychotherapy.
• To enhance understanding of BSH's content, impact on outcomes, and methods for fostering client engagement.

Main Methods:

• Introductory paper presenting a special issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychology: In Session.
• Exemplification of BSH integration across diverse client demographics and psychotherapeutic paradigms.
• Emphasis on the interplay between BSH and proposed mechanisms of change.

Main Results:

• Overview of BSH and empirical research substantiating its efficacy in psychotherapy.
• Strategies for adeptly integrating and monitoring BSH within clinical practice are discussed.
• The special issue showcases diverse applications and benefits of BSH.

Conclusions:

• Improved comprehension of BSH content, nature, and influence on treatment outcomes.
• Guidance for therapists on fostering client engagement with BSH.
• Introduction to six papers within the special issue, further exploring BSH applications.