Treatment FAQ

why we do treatment outcome research in counseling

by Katelyn Stokes Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

While experiencing the benefits of counseling is the goal, outcome research allows us to find best practices, evaluate techniques, and optimize counseling approaches for clients. Psychotherapy and other counseling techniques help individuals explore moods and behaviors, provide fresh perspectives, and offer a better understanding of emotions.

Treatment outcome studies are designed to answer commonsense questions. To determine whether a treatment accomplishes anything, we have to know how patients who have not received the treatment fare. Perhaps untreated patients do just as well, implying that the treatment does not influence outcome at all.

Full Answer

What is treatment outcome research?

Treatment outcome research was defined by Mowrer (1953) as a situation whereby the “emphasis is upon measuring significant aspects of personality before and after treatment and noting the nature and extent of the resulting changes” (p. 4).

What are the outcomes of counseling?

Outcomes of Counseling. Counseling and psychotherapy outcomes are the benefits (or harms) that derive for clients (patients or mental healthcare consumers) as a result of their experiences or treatment in therapy or counseling.

Why is counseling research important?

Finally, counseling research gives voice to our lived experiences as counselors and serves as a buffer against marginalization within the mental health research community. During the past four decades, counselor educators have articulated the need for humanism and multicultural competence, among other ideals.

How to evaluate therapy outcomes?

Outcomes can be evaluated in terms of their statistical significance, and they can be evaluated in terms of the clinical significance or clinical relevance. There are two types of statistical significance that may be considered when evaluating therapy outcomes. The first has to do with differences between or among treatment groups.

image

What is treatment outcome research?

research designed to evaluate the efficacy of interventions and to investigate the mechanism by which effective interventions produce change.

What is a treatment outcome?

Treatment outcome research was defined by Mowrer (1953) as a situation whereby the “emphasis is upon measuring significant aspects of personality before and after treatment and noting the nature and extent of the resulting changes” (p. 4).

What is treatment process research?

Therapy process research investigates what happens in therapy sessions and how these interactions influence outcomes. Therapy process research employs an array of methodologies but has recently used clinical trials as a platform for investigating process—outcome relations.

What is an outcome assessment in counseling?

Outcomes assessment involves developing outcome measures to assess treatment effectiveness. • Outcomes research is a patient-centered process that measures the result of care as perceived by the patient (pain, function, satisfaction, quality of life) (Keller 1993).

What is Outcome research PDF?

Outcomes research is a broad umbrella term without a consistent definition. However it tends to describe research that is concerned with the effectiveness of public-health interventions and health services; that is, the outcomes of these services.

What are outcomes in psychology?

The psychological outcomes of intermediary processing are known as “cognition,” “consciousness,” and “comportment” and include the diverse manifestations of memory, emotion, attention, language, planning, judgment, insight, and thought.

How do you evaluate treatment effectiveness?

Evaluating Treatments: How Do You Know When a Treatment Really Works?Suggestion #1: Do Your Homework. ... Suggestion #2: Know Your Baseline. ... Suggestion #3: Start One New Treatment at a Time. ... Suggestion #4: Take Natural Child Development Into Account. ... Suggestion #5: Be Aware of "Good Weeks and Bad Weeks"More items...•

Why is research applied?

Applied research refers to scientific study and research that seeks to solve practical problems. 1 This type of research plays an important role in solving everyday problems that often have an impact on life, work, health, and overall well-being.

How do psychologists evaluate the effectiveness of the multitude of treatment options available?

Psychologists use outcome research, that is, studies that assess the effectiveness of medical treatments, to determine the effectiveness of different therapies.

Why is it important to measure outcomes in therapy?

Measuring clinical outcomes offers significant benefits to psychologists and patients. Use of outcomes measures can guide treatment decisions, pinpoint the need for additional professional education and training, and help patients recognize their own improvement.

What is the purpose of outcome assessments?

Outcomes Assessment (OA) is the process of collecting information that will tell the College whether the services, activities, or experiences it offers are having the desired impact on those who partake in them. In other words, is the College making a difference in the lives of the individuals it serves?

Why are outcome measures important?

Measuring health outcomes allows us to make decisions about how to best care for our patients and outcome measures help us predict the patients who might benefit most from a particular intervention. It helps us identify any improvement after an intervention is provided.

Why is research important in counseling?

Research is vital in the field of counseling because it provides with proper data on the impact and effectiveness of counseling.

Why is conducting research important?

It is essential to know if there is a continuum that is effective and meet all the necessary criteria.

What is evidence based practice?

According to Lecture 1 Evidence- based practice is a clinical modality that can be used for therapy to prove with research that counseling is effective by providing measures and outcomes. So, by conducting a research the counselor is able to prove the treatment is effective.

Why should counselors refer to the code of ethics?

The counselor needs to make sure to respect clients at all times. For that reason, the counselor should refer to the code of ethics for additional support. The counselor should have ethical and legal considerations when using research in counseling it is for the protection of the client. It is important to know what the population ...

What is therapeutic alliance?

Therapeutic Alliance. Therapeutic alliance is building a relationship between client and the therapist. This relationship is important in order for the client to have some success with treatment. Assisting, client’s in identifying personal goals, strengths, and preferences for change in behaviors.

Why is it important to have a link between interpersonal difficulties and emotional problems?

To be able to do this is important because it is one of the principal points for patient to remain in therapy (Guthrie, Read More.

What is a PIT in therapy?

The therapist attempts to bestow a rationale for the patient, which affirms the significance of relating emotional or somatic symptoms to interpersonal conflicts or problems. By the end of initial sessions, the link between the interpersonal difficulties and emotional problems and distress should be constructed. To be able to do this is important because it is one of the principal points for patient to remain in therapy (Guthrie,

What is treatment outcome research?

Treatment outcome research was defined by Mowrer (1953) as a situation where by the “emphasis is upon measuring significant aspects of personality before and after treatment and noting the nature and extent of the resulting changes ” (p. 4). Sue and Zane (1987) have stated that therapeutic outcome is “the cumulative product of many discrete dynamics between client and therapist” (p. 44). Orlinski, Grawe, and Parks (1994) have asserted that the term “treatment outcome” has had a history of divergent meanings that have ranged from observational perspective to analysis levels. The authors pointed out that the definition and criteria for outcomes differ depending on who is completing the assessments before and after treatment is received. That is, differences are present if the assessment is completed by therapists, clients, no participant observers, or nonprofessionals. They indicated that level of analysis also had critical issues in need of clarification. These issues included the outcomes occurring within, and external to, the therapy sessions and the use of evaluative or descriptive assessment instruments. The authors concluded that “treatment outcome should refer to changes in condition (psychological, somatic, physical, social, and cultural) reflecting favorable or adverse effects on the patients well being” (p. 284).

What is the purpose of clinical outcomes measures?

Rothstein contends that clinical outcomes measures must transcend impairment measures through meaningful functional indicators. All outcome measures attempt to compare a patient's progress or lack thereof between two points in time, typically an initial evaluation to re-evaluation comparison.

What are DM outcomes?

DM outcomes are multidimensional and include both clinical and financial measures. These outcomes may be influenced only partly by the patient's condition and provider's interventions. Again, worker-workplace interactions must be considered for successful outcomes ( Brines et al, 1999 ). However, providers are cautioned about the use of RTW as a stable outcome measure because of the high recurrence of injury. RTW may not be a stable outcome measure of a DM program ( Butler et al, 1995 ). Enriched disability compensation programs can discourage full participation and compromise outcomes of vocational rehabilitation programs ( Drew et al, 2001 ).

What is outcome management?

Outcomes management is based on data gathering and management. This process begins with a unique intake process that includes initial comprehension screening to identify potential psychosocial barriers to rehabilitation. Areas of focus include the following:

How long does it take for a Level II client to return to work?

Level II clients are predicted to return to work after 5-8 weeks of treatment, because their residual impairments are of a mild nature, tissue damage is minimal to moderate, and 6 weeks or more have lapsed between symptom onset and interventions. These persons may also have signs of depression.

Why is outcome research important in counseling?

While experiencing the benefits of counseling is the goal, outcome research allows us to find best practices, evaluate techniques, and optimize counseling approaches for clients.

What are the benefits of counseling?

Here is a list of the benefits of counseling based on research. 1. Scientific evidence for treating mental illness and improving mood. Counselors use a myriad of techniques and approaches to improve the mental health and wellbeing of clients.

How does counseling help society?

As counseling improves the mental health, resilience, educational, and work outcomes of individuals, general society reaps the benefits through economic and physical wellbeing and relational improvement.

What is counseling in psychology?

Counseling is a specific mental health discipline that includes aspects of guidance and psychotherapy (Erford, 2018). It focuses on a wellness model aimed at improving the quality of life and involves both the counselor and client in collaboration.

What are the three types of depression that can be effectively treated with counseling?

The three types of depression that can be effectively treated with counseling include: Major depressive disorder. Seasonal affective disorder. Dysthymia.

Why is family therapy important?

Family therapy and couples counseling are important to help both the family unit and individual members within it. Family and couples counseling can help with: Communication problems. Stressful life events such as divorce, job loss, career transition, moves, loss of a family member.

How effective is group therapy?

Group counseling is just as effective as individual treatment for most conditions, as long as the group is specific to the focus of treatment (Erford, 2018). Group therapy involves one or more leaders (trained counselors, therapists, or psychologists) that lead/guide a group of 5–15 clients.

Journal overview

Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation (CORE) provides counselor educators, researchers, educators, and other mental health practitioners with outcome research and program evaluation practices for work with individuals across the lifespan.

Associated journals

Publishes research on testing and analysis of instruments for assessing, scoring, measuring and evaluating patient outcomes after counseling.

Academic Research on Progress Monitoring's Effectiveness

The vast majority of studies measuring the impact of progress monitoring have focused on treating patients with mental health issues. Carlier et al. did a meta-analysis of 52 randomized control trials studying the impact of progress monitoring that were published between 1975 and 2009.

Why Does Progress Monitoring Work?

Progress monitoring appears to make the biggest difference for patients who are not responding as expected to treatment. Research by Michael J. Lambert showed that psychotherapists have a strong tendency to overestimate client improvement and often fail to recognize patients who plateau or worsen during treatment.

Progress Monitoring Recommendations

Drs. Goodman, McKay and DePhilippis summarized their research findings in a 2013 journal article titled Progress Monitoring in Mental Health & Addiction Treatment: A Means of Improving Care as follows:

Implementing Progress Monitoring

One challenge for clinicians wanting to implement progress monitoring has been the absence of inexpensive, easy-to-use tools to collect appropriate data from patients and report it back to their counselors in real-time.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9