Abstract
This is a contribution to the research on the therapist variable aiming to improve effectiveness of psychotherapy. It is shown that attachment styles shape personality styles of psychotherapists in a favorable or unfavorable manner. Data on personality (PSDI) and attachment (RSQ) styles was collected from 430 psychological psychotherapists of the DACH countries using an online survey. The 88 insecurely attached psychotherapists differed significantly from their 342 securely attached colleagues in 9 of 14 personality styles: They were – even though well within normal range – more paranoid, borderline, schizoid, dependent, negativistic, self-sacrificing, avoidant, and depressive, as well as less optimistic. This corresponds to results of other researchers. Data regarding their effectiveness was not available. It is argued that a secure attachment style predispose to be a good psychotherapist. Yet, insecurely attached psychotherapists possibly compensate their adverse traits through self-therapy, continuous education, and supervision.
Highlights
Treatment outcome in psychotherapy is mostly, but not exclusively, associated with factors related to the patient, and with therapist variables, for example, the therapist’s personality and interpersonal skills (Beutler et al, 2004; Lambert, 2013)
It was found to account for 8% of the variance in treatment outcome in a recent meta-analysis (Flückiger et al, 2018), and therapist variability appears to be the crucial factor in alliance quality as opposed to patient variability (Del Re et al, 2012)
Single sample t-tests were used to determine whether the 80% (n = 342) securely attached psychotherapists differed from the 20% (n = 88) insecurely attached ones according to personality styles, which they did in 9 of the 14 personality styles
Summary
Treatment outcome in psychotherapy is mostly, but not exclusively, associated with factors related to the patient (e.g., severity and chronicity of the disorder), and with therapist variables, for example, the therapist’s personality and interpersonal skills (Beutler et al, 2004; Lambert, 2013). In an extensive meta-analysis, therapist effects accounted for about 5% of the variance in treatment outcome which seems small only on first sight (Baldwin and Imel, 2013). The therapist’s influence is more profound, as he or she seems to be the crucial factor in one of the most researched and robust single predictors of treatment success, which is the therapeutic alliance (Baldwin et al, 2007; Del Re et al, 2012). It was found to account for 8% of the variance in treatment outcome in a recent meta-analysis (Flückiger et al, 2018), and therapist variability appears to be the crucial factor in alliance quality as opposed to patient variability (Del Re et al, 2012).
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