A review of the research on Counseling, Psychotherapy and related practices

 Book edited  by Mick Cooper, Jeanne Watson and Dagmar Hölldampf

  PCE Works  

This book is the product of a World Association for Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling Task Force examining the evidence base for person-centered and experiential counseling and psychotherapy.

Person-Centered and Experiential Therapies Work provides a comprehensive, systematic and accessible review of the evidence base for the approach and the methods and measures by which it can be evaluated. It gives clear evidence for the effectiveness of person-centered and experiential therapies, and is an essential resource for students and practitioners who want to know more about the empirical support for their work, and to promote it with confidence.

Special offer for all members of the World Association for Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counseling:
WAPCEPC member price: £17.00
(UK delivery free, Europe delivery £1.70, Rest of World £3.40)
• To access this offer, click on the following link: WAPCEPC SPECIAL OFFER
• WAPCEPC members can also order by telephone - orders are dispatched to addresses on the membership database. To order call +44 (0)1989 763 900 office hours 09.00 - 17.00hrs.
• This offer is available to WAPCEPC members only. Membership status will be checked.

Contents
1. The Effectiveness of Person-Centered and Experiential Therapies: A review of the meta-analyses
Robert Elliott & Elizabeth Freire
2. Effectiveness of Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies with Children and Young People:A review of
outcome studies 
Dagmar Hölldampf, Michael Behr & Ina Crawford
3. Effectiveness beyond Psychotherapy: The person-centered, experiential paradigm in education, parenting, and
management
Jeffrey H. D. Cornelius-White & Renate Motschnig-Pitrik
4. Qualitative Meta-Analysis of Outcomes of Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies
Ladislav Timulak & Mary Creaner
5. Clients as Active Self-Healers: Implications for the person-centered approach
Arthur C. Bohart & Karen Tallman
6. Relating Process to Outcome in Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies: The role of the relationship
conditions and clients' experiencing
Jeanne C. Watson, Leslie S. Greenberg & Germain Lietaer
7. Operationalizing Incongruence: Measures of self-discrepancy and affect regulation
Jeanne C. Watson & Neill Watson
8. Measuring the Relationship Conditions in Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapies: Past, present, and
future
Elizabeth Freire & Soti Grafanaki
9. Researching in a Person-Centered Way
Paul Wilkins
10. Key Priorities for Research in the Person-Centered and Experiential Field: ‘If not now, when?'
Mick Cooper, Jeanne C. Watson & Dagmar Hölldampf

In November 2006 the Gemeinsame Bundesausschuss, the German clinical advisory body, recommended that patients in Germany with mental health needs should not be reimbursed by health-insurance for receiving person-centered psychotherapy (PCEP).

In support of our colleagues of the GwG, the WA formulated a statement to the German Health Minister, outlining the scientific reasons why this recommendation should be re-considered.

The Health Minister has now rejected the original decision and we look forward to hearing what is going to happen next.

The WA statement was written by Robert Elliott and Jeffrey Cornelius-White in cooperation with Michael Behr and Juergen Kriz.

The full text can be found in GwG Statement

8th PCE Conference, Norwich: Press Release 7th July 2008

PDF version

The idea of that Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is more effective than other types of therapy is a myth, according to leading psychotherapy experts attending a major conference at the University of East Anglia (UEA) today.

The US and UK researchers will present data and critical analyses that debunk the widespread belief in the superior effectiveness of CBT.

The major international conference will be hosted from July 6-10 by the University of East Anglia's Centre for Counselling Studies. Organised on behalf of the World Association for Person-Centered and Experiential Psychotherapy and Counselling, it is the first time the conference has been held in England and 400 delegates are attending from across the world.

Professors Mick Cooper and Robert Elliott (both University of Strathclyde), William B Stiles (Miami University) and Art Bohart (Saybrook Graduate School) will issue the following joint statement today (Monday July 7 2008):

"The government, the public and even many health officials have been sold a version of the scientific evidence that is not based in fact, but is instead based on a logical error. This is how it works: 1) More academic researchers subscribe to a CBT approach than any other. 2) These researchers get more research grants and publish more studies on the effectiveness of CBT. 3) This greater number of studies is used to imply that CBT is more effective.

"This is a classic example of the logical fallacy known as ‘argument from ignorance' ie the absence of evidence is taken as evidence of absence.

A proposed intervention - Executive Summary

• Person-centred/experiential (PC/E) counselling and psychotherapy is a family of psychological therapies that can help clients develop moresatisfying and fulfilling lives through the provision of an empathic, nonjudgmental and empowering therapeutic relationship.
• Person-centred/experiential therapy enables clients to take responsibility for their psychological wellbeing and development, and is closely aligned to a patient centred healthcare agenda.
• Person-centred/experiential practice is an empirically-supported approach to therapy which is demonstrably effective for a range ofpsychological difficulties, including depression and mixed anxiety and depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder andadjustment to life events.
• Meta-analyses indicate that person-centred/experiential therapy is equivalent in overall effectiveness to other therapeutic approaches, including CBT.
• Person-centred counselling is most obviously appropriate for delivery atTiers 2 and 3, with some current and potentially efficacious application at Tier 4. More focused PC/E interventions are particularly suited to Tiers 3 and 4 and the use of person-centred counselling skills suited for widespread delivery at Tier 1.
• Person-centred counselling is well established both in the NHS and across a variety of settings in Scotland. Over the past 11 years, more than 25,000 patients have made use of this service in Lanarkshire alone.
• A large and skilled workforce of PC/E practitioners exists in Scotland, with over a thousand graduates of Scottish person-centred diploma courses in the past decade.
• Professional standards for counselling require all PC/E therapists to have regular clinical supervision and to demonstrate a commitment to continuing professional development and ethical practice.
• Person-centred/experiential therapies can make a significant and valuable contribution to the diversity and effectiveness of mental healthcare provision in Scotland.

Mick Cooper, Professor of Counselling, University of Strathclyde, John McLeod, Professor of Counselling, University of Abertay, Robert Elliott, Professor of Counselling, University of Strathclyde, Dave Mearns, Professor of Counselling, University of Strathclyde, Jo Hilton, Secretary, Person-Centred Therapy, Scotland, Susan McGinnis, Co-ordinator, Counselling in Schools Project, Glasgow, Susan Cornforth, Counsellor in private practice, Kevin McGeever, Director, Lanarkshire Therapeutic Counselling Service, Tracey Sanders, Lecturer in Counselling, University of Strathclyde, Lorna Carrick, Lecturer in Counselling, University of Strathclyde, Mike Hough, Senior Lecturer in Counselling, University of Strathclyde, Ewan Gillon, Senior Lecturer in Psychology, Glasgow Caledonian University