Psychotherapy Skills and Methods That Work

Abstract

Abstract This book is based on the assumption that skills and methods contribute to the outcome of psychotherapy in addition to many other elements, such as the client, the therapist, the therapeutic relationship, and external factors. We suggest that what therapists do makes a meaningful difference, although there are often a number of skills and methods that might prove helpful or hindering in any given situation. This book reviews the evidence for the effectiveness of 27 psychotherapy skills and methods: affirmation/validation; self-disclosure; immediacy; rupture repairs; questions; Socratic questions and guided discovery; empathic reflection; metaphors; interpretations; paradoxical interventions; advice, suggestions, and recommendations; between session homework; silence; dyadic synchrony; role induction; collaborative assessment methods; strength-based methods; routine outcome monitoring; emotion regulation; chairwork; dream work; meditation, mindfulness, and acceptance; behavioral activation; and cognitive restructuring. The book also summarizes the evidence across the 27 skills and methods and provides implications for training, practice, and research.