ABSTRACT

This study aimed to investigate (a) what clients’ within-treatment activity preferences were; (b) whether a match between preferences and psychotherapy approach predicted outcomes and alliance; (c) whether scores on preference dimensions, per se, predicted outcomes and alliance. Participants were 470 clients engaging in one of five approaches with trainee psychotherapists. We used the Cooper–Norcross Inventory of Preferences to identify clients’ within-treatment activity preferences; and multilevel modelling to examine the relationship between these preferences – and a match on these preferences – to outcomes and alliance. Clients had an overall preference for therapist directiveness and emotional intensity. We found no evidence of a preference matching effect. Clients who expressed a desire for focused challenge over warm support showed greater progress. Client preferences for focused challenge may be indicative of their readiness to change and indicate a positive prognosis. Further research should directly observe therapeutic practices and assess a range of client variables.

摘要

本研究旨在调查 (a) 来访者在治疗期间的活动偏好是什么；(b) 偏好和心理治疗方法之间的匹配是否可以预测结果和联盟；(c) 偏好维度的分数本身是否预测结果和联盟。参与者是 470 名客户，他们与实习心理治疗师一起参与了五种方法中的一种。我们使用 Cooper–Norcross 偏好清单来确定客户的治疗内活动偏好；和多层次建模来检查这些偏好之间的关系 - 以及这些偏好的匹配 - 与结果和联盟。客户对治疗师的指导性和情绪强度有总体偏好。我们没有发现偏好匹配效应的证据。那些表示希望集中挑战而不是热情支持的客户表现出更大的进步。客户对集中挑战的偏好可能表明他们愿意改变并表明积极的预后。进一步的研究应直接观察治疗实践并评估一系列客户变量。