S/PS/37. How Does Therapy Work?

Research that has investigated the factors that positively affect the outcome of psychotherapy is consulted. Factors that have been found to be present in all psychotherapies are considered, and some research into the role of self-disclosure in psychotherapy from clients points of view is briefly considered. The role of the therapeutic alliance is discussed as an important common factor in making psychotherapy work. A social constructionists view on how therapy works when conducted from this epistemological standpoint is discussed. The possibility that different therapies contain specific factors that make it successful is considered before concluding that how (and whether) therapy works may depend upon a number of factors and the relationships between them.