Abstract
The policy statement for evidence-based practice in psychology is the most important document in contemporary psychotherapy. In its current form, evidence-based practice in psychology gives scientific research precedence in psychotherapy practice. However, psychotherapy practice’s complexity warrants reflection beyond the limits of science. The importance of clinical expert is not recognised in the current policy statement. The clinical expert is necessary to translate psychological research into clinical practice. It is also crucial to identify, clarify and include patient preferences in psychotherapy practice. This paper argues that virtue ethics is a useful theoretical framework for conceptualising clinical expertise. Clinical expertise is conceptualised as the meta-capacity of practical wisdom (phronesis) and the virtues necessary for integrating best available research, clinical expertise and patient preferences.
Highlights
Evidence-based practice in psychology is the most important regulatory policy-statement in current psychotherapy
Emphasising the role of phronesis in psychotherapy practice is at odds with the current scientocentric conceptualisation of best psychotherapy practice
This paper claims that a good application of scientific results in psychotherapy practice hinges upon phronesis
Summary
Reviewed by: Jelle Bruineberg, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands Marianna Ambrosecchia, University of Parma, Italy. The policy statement for evidence-based practice in psychology is the most important document in contemporary psychotherapy. In its current form, evidence-based practice in psychology gives scientific research precedence in psychotherapy practice. Psychotherapy practice’s complexity warrants reflection beyond the limits of science. The importance of clinical expert is not recognised in the current policy statement. The clinical expert is necessary to translate psychological research into clinical practice. It is crucial to identify, clarify and include patient preferences in psychotherapy practice. This paper argues that virtue ethics is a useful theoretical framework for conceptualising clinical expertise. Clinical expertise is conceptualised as the meta-capacity of practical wisdom (phronesis) and the virtues necessary for integrating best available research, clinical expertise and patient preferences
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