Psychotherapy Research最新文献

{"title":"Session-by-session outcome trajectories in disaster counselling: Testing dose-effect and good-enough level models in South Korea.","authors":"Hyunmo Seong, Hun-Ju Lee, Hajin Lim, Gippeum Park, Sang Min Lee","doi":"10.1080/10503307.2026.2686682","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2026.2686682","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Evidence comparing dose-effect and good-enough level (GEL) models is drawn largely from Western outpatient and university counselling samples treating common mental health problems. It therefore remains unclear whether these models generalize to non-Western, post-disaster counselling contexts. This study examines session-by-session outcome trajectories among South Korean survivors of the humidifier disinfectant disaster and tests whether these patterns align with dose-effect and GEL predictions.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed routine outcome monitoring data from humidifier disinfectant disaster survivors in South Korea (180 clients; 2307 sessions; 105 therapists). Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) scores were modelled with multilevel growth curves and compared across aggregate and treatment-length-stratified specifications.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A negatively accelerating log-linear trajectory best fit the data, showing rapid early improvement followed by decelerating gains. Stratified models revealed a significant interaction between session progress and treatment length; brief care (≤5 sessions) typically did not reach the ORS clinical cutoff (25) despite exhibiting the steepest initial improvement rate. Reliable and clinically significant change peaked in the 11-20 session group compared to the brief care group, whereas individuals attending more than 20 sessions showed sustained but relatively stabilized recovery pattern.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Findings support complementary dose-effect and GEL perspectives, highlighting the inadequacy of rigid session caps for highly distressed survivors. The higher odds of recovery in moderate-to-long-term group (11-20 sessions) emphasize that survivors require a sufficient dose to consolidate gains. These results underscore routine outcome monitoring and flexible care structures as practical tools for dynamically tailoring treatment lengths in national-scale trauma counselling programmes.</p>","PeriodicalId":48159,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy Research","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148220406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The therapist effect in adult psychotherapy: a systematic scoping review of reviews.","authors":"Sven Alfonsson, Maria Hedman-Lagerlöf, Emma Högberg Ragnarsson, Johanna Linde, Annika Lindgren, Simon Fagernäs, Maria Beckman, Gustaf Reinebo, Ida Mälarstig, Markus Jansson-Fröjmark","doi":"10.1080/10503307.2026.2683003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2026.2683003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The therapist effect, i.e., the variation in psychotherapy outcomes attributable to individual therapists, is consistently estimated at 5-8%, yet a deeper understanding of the mechanisms remains poorly understood. This scoping review synthesizes systematic reviews and meta-analyses to clarify conceptualizations of therapist effects, assess methodological strengths and limitations, and summarize evidence in adult psychotherapy.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO. Eligible studies were peer-reviewed systematic reviews or meta-analyses examining therapist-related factors and adult psychotherapy outcomes. Twenty-nine reviews met the inclusion criteria. Data on study aims, methods, main results, and conclusions were retrieved. Review quality was assessed using the AMSTAR 2.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Two reviews estimated overall therapist effects without examining explanatory variables, while 27 focused on specific therapist traits or competencies. Methodological limitations were common, including limited preregistration, inadequate risk-of-bias assessment, and weak statistical approaches. Contextual moderators were rarely examined. Evidence for specific therapist characteristics was mixed, though moderate support emerged for interpersonal qualities and skills.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Therapist effects appear multifaceted, involving therapist, patient, and contextual factors. Interpersonal skills show the most consistent associations with outcomes, but methodological weaknesses and limited contextual analysis constrain progress. Suggestions for future research include more rigorous study designs, including multi-level analyses.</p>","PeriodicalId":48159,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy Research","volume":" ","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148158510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transgender and non-binary adults' recommendations for relational, couple, marriage and family therapy: A Canadian qualitative study.","authors":"Chichun Lin, Nate Fuks, Haeon Kang, Lukas Maitland","doi":"10.1080/10503307.2026.2683000","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2026.2683000","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Transgender and non-binary (TNB) individuals experience elevated mental health risks related to minority stress and marginalization. Although relational, couple, marriage and family therapy (RCMFT) services may support TNB clients, limited existing studies have examined how RCMFT interventions may be adapted to meet their needs. The present study explored TNB adults' recommendations for improving therapeutic interventions in RCMFT in Canada.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twelve TNB adults across Canada were recruited through snowball sampling and community-based advertising. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom and analyzed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Four themes were identified: Therapeutic Skills, Connections, Preferred Interventions and Culturally Attuned Approaches. Participants emphasized the importance of active listening, validation, balanced relational engagement, experiential and relationally attuned interventions and culturally attuned practice in fostering safety, trust and meaningful engagement in therapy. The findings also suggest that commonly valued therapeutic processes may take on particular significance within contexts shaped by minority stress and relational marginalization.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>By centring TNB adults' recommendations, the present study highlights the importance of culturally attuned and relationally responsive approaches in RCMFT with TNB clients. The findings may inform RCMFT training, supervision and clinical practice in Canada.</p>","PeriodicalId":48159,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy Research","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148158520","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Conflict of interest in trials of internet-based interventions for depression: Systematic review and meta-regression.","authors":"Thomas Munder, Berit Barthelmes, Lenny Weber, Christoph Flückiger, André Kerber, Tobias Krieger, Birgit Watzke, Markus Wolf","doi":"10.1080/10503307.2025.2538549","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10503307.2025.2538549","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>To investigate (a) the prevalence of industry sponsorship (InS), researchers' financial conflicts of interest (RFCOI) and researcher allegiance (RA) in clinical trials of internet-based interventions (IBI) for depression and (b) their possible relation with treatment effects.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of 94 comparisons of therapist-guided or self-guided IBI with a passive control group.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>InS was present in 13 (38.24%) out of 34 comparisons of commercial IBI; RFCOI was present in 29 (30.85%), RA in 75 (79.79%) out of all 94 comparisons. In primary meta-regressions, presence of InS and RFCOI was significantly associated with larger treatment effects, while presence of RA was not. Overall, sensitivity analyses showed consistent results, but suggested differential results for trials of therapist-guided and self-guided IBI: While InS and RFCOI showed larger effects in trials of self-guided IBI, no effect was found for trials of therapist-guided IBI.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>InS, RFCOI, and RA are prevalent and should receive more attention in IBI research. The role of RA on outcome warrants further investigation because this meta-analysis did not include comparative trials. Small effect sizes in trials without InS or RFCOI suggest that current meta-analytic efficacy estimates of self-guided IBI for depression are overestimated.</p>","PeriodicalId":48159,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy Research","volume":" ","pages":"845-855"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144838272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Touch in psychotherapy: Experiences, desires and attitudes in a large population survey.","authors":"Michal Tanzer, Athanasios Koukoutsakis, Ilia Galouzidi, Paul M Jenkinson, Claudia Hammond, Michael J Banissy, Aikaterini Fotopoulou","doi":"10.1080/10503307.2025.2534971","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10503307.2025.2534971","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Social touch has known therapeutic effects on physical and mental health. However, research on the role of touch in psychotherapy is limited. The frequency of touch in psychotherapy, and the individual differences that influence clients' perceived quality and desirability of touch, remain unknown.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We utilized the largest-to-date UK survey on touch, identifying 6878 individuals who reported receiving psychological therapy in the last 10 years, to explore: (1) the perceived quantity and affective quality (positive/negative) of therapeutic touch experiences, (2) the desirability of touch, and (3) key traits such as attachment style that may influence the perceived meaning and desirability of touch.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Touch was reported by 30% of responders, with 70% of them stating it communicated support. Importantly, 4% reported it as inappropriate, and 5% rated their experiences as negative. Additionally, 40% of responders expressed some desire to be touched by their therapist. Higher scores on avoidant attachment were negatively associated with positive ratings of touch. The desire to be touched was associated with attachment style, with individuals scoring higher on anxious attachment reporting a greater desire for touch.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This exploratory survey highlights the need for further investigation into the potential benefits and risks of touch interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":48159,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy Research","volume":" ","pages":"971-986"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144709466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Therapeutic alliance and suicidal ideation during therapy and the role of racial/ethnic identity.","authors":"Katherine A Davis, Louis G Castonguay, Rebecca A Janis, Fredrik Falkenström, Brett E Scofield","doi":"10.1080/10503307.2026.2674016","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10503307.2026.2674016","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Research has shown a robust relationship between the quality of a therapeutic alliance early in treatment and subsequent symptomatic outcome. However, findings are mixed regarding other kinds of outcome across treatment. The current study aimed to examine the association between alliance and suicidal ideation (SI) throughout treatment and whether that association varies depending on marginalized race/ethnicity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Structural equation modeling was used to examine 1,099 clients at a university counseling center. Alliance and SI were measured at every session. Analyses tested the relationship between alliance and SI across five sessions, regarding between-client associations and within-client time-lagged predictions. Moderation of marginalized race/ethnicity on the relationship between alliance and SI was tested.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Across treatment, clients who reported more SI had lower alliance scores. When clients reported higher alliance ratings than they usually did in a session, their reported SI tended to decline in the following session. There was no evidence that when clients reported lower SI in a session, alliance ratings increased in the following session. Clients of marginalized race/ethnicity reported lower alliance and higher SI compared to non-marginalized clients. However, the association between alliance and SI scores did not vary depending on marginalized race/ethnicity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Future research directions and clinical implications are discussed.</p>","PeriodicalId":48159,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy Research","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148139383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physiological, acoustic, and self-reported responses to benign and challenging therapy situations: A pilot study with psychotherapy trainees.","authors":"Kim De Jong, Noha M Yassen, Tom M Seinen, Cosima Nimphy, Noemi M Platania, Natasha L Hughes, Kane Steggles","doi":"10.1080/10503307.2025.2539403","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10503307.2025.2539403","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>: Challenging therapy situations are interpersonally charged moments in therapy and can serve as a critical marker for assessing therapists' interpersonal skills. This study aimed to investigate trainee therapists' stress response during such situations.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>: Trainees (<i>n</i> = 46) completed both the Facilitative Interpersonal Skills performance task to measure challenging therapy situations and an additional benign condition depicting interpersonally neutral moments in therapy. We assessed heart rate, heart rate variability, skin conductance level, fundamental frequency, speech rate, and self-reported distress to measure stress throughout the task.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>: Analyses show differences on most outcome measures between the benign and challenging condition in the predicted direction (more arousal), although there was no alignment with self-reported distress.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>: These findings highlight the promising nature of considering trainees' stress responses in different therapy situations in future research.</p>","PeriodicalId":48159,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy Research","volume":" ","pages":"919-928"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144974571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A metamethod analysis of qualitative research methodology in studies of psychotherapists' experiences.","authors":"Javier L Rizo, Heidi M Levitt, Zenobia Morrill, Bediha Ipekci","doi":"10.1080/10503307.2025.2530561","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10503307.2025.2530561","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objective:</b> As the amount of qualitative psychotherapy research has increased, methodological and reporting practices have evolved and changed to reflect trends in the field. We investigated trends by surveying the methodological characteristics of the qualitative research on therapists' experiences conducting psychotherapy prior to the publication of the SQIP methodological integrity framework and APA reporting standards for qualitative research. <b>Methods:</b> We identified articles using PsycINFO and coded features including publication year, reported epistemological perspective, number of participants, research design, and procedural checks. We analyzed trends in 140 studies (published 1985 to2015) across these characteristics using descriptive and exploratory inferential statistics. <b>Results:</b> The number of publications grew substantially. Researchers reported their epistemological stance in approximately a quarter of studies, which was not predictive of article age, number of participants, reports of reflexivity, or credibility checks. Additionally, a larger number of participants were associated with grounded theory designs, whereas fewer were associated with phenomenological studies. Higher numbers of reflexivity and credibility checks were associated with consensual qualitative research. Procedures promoting reflexivity, such as formal reflection and self-description by researchers, increased over time, whereas procedures promoting credibility, such as consensus, decreased. <b>Conclusions:</b> Qualitative psychotherapy research is fast-growing and becoming more reflexive, although researchers should more routinely report features related to methodological integrity.</p>","PeriodicalId":48159,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy Research","volume":" ","pages":"856-869"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144668763","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Attitudes towards virtual reality usage in exposure treatment: Data from German practitioners and how a demonstration changes them.","authors":"Daniel Badeja, Florian Schier, Matthew McGinity, Jürgen Hoyer","doi":"10.1080/10503307.2025.2534978","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10503307.2025.2534978","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) is well applicable within the framework of cognitive-behavioural anxiety treatment, yet its acceptance and implementation in psychotherapeutic practice remain unclear. This study assessed VRET-related attitudes among German psychotherapists and the impact of a brief demonstration on their intention to use VRET.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study involved an online survey (<i>N</i> = 140) and an optional on-site scenario demonstration (<i>n</i> = 45). Self-reported attitudes, experience rates, and Usage Intention were assessed. Predictors of Usage Intention were identified via hierarchical multiple regression. A linear mixed model estimated the demonstration's effect on Usage Intention.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Only 7.9% of participants reported at least occasional VR use in practice. A majority (78.7%) indicated a generally positive attitude towards VRET. While 77.9% participants could <i>imagine</i> integrating VRET into their work, only 20.0% reported intending to do so in the next year. Usage Intention was predicted by Performance Expectancy and Facilitating Conditions, increasing significantly (<i>d</i> = 1.50) from screening to post-demonstration.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Despite their interest in VR, VRET implementation among German psychotherapists' remains low. The substantial impact of hands-on demonstrations indicates the potential of experiential education programmes in promoting early-stage dissemination.</p>","PeriodicalId":48159,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy Research","volume":" ","pages":"901-918"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144754898","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Experience of self-discovery and change in a psychodynamic internet delivered programme for university students experiencing low mood.","authors":"Rose Mortimer, Dominika Iluczyk, Jakob Mechler, Karin Lindqvist, Nick Midgley, Gerhard Andersson, Henry Clements","doi":"10.1080/10503307.2025.2538552","DOIUrl":"10.1080/10503307.2025.2538552","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Psychodynamic \"talking\" therapies have been adapted to be delivered over the internet, with remote guidance from a therapist. The aim of this study is to explore participants' experiences of change during an internet-delivered psychodynamic psychotherapy (iPDT), with findings discussed in the light of psychodynamic theory.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Interviews were conducted with fifteen university students who had taken part in a 10-week therapist-supported iPDT programme for low mood. Data was analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants described several experiences which fit closely with the hypothesized change mechanisms for iPDT, including: increased capacity for self-observation, learning to directly feel and accept difficult emotions, coming to recognize and change maladaptive defences, making sense of how early experiences had contributed to the development of these defences, and experimenting with new ways of relating to others and self.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall, participants' experiences of change and self-discovery align with psychodynamic theory. This journey was described by many as an empowering yet challenging process.<b>Trial registration:</b> ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06133582.</p>","PeriodicalId":48159,"journal":{"name":"Psychotherapy Research","volume":" ","pages":"943-958"},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144822942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}