Decades of research shows that factors common to various therapies contribute more to their effectiveness than the differences among them. These common factors pertain largely to the quality of the patient-therapist relationship. Prototypical are the Rogerian triad (empathy, positive regard, and genuineness) and the extensively researched therapeutic alliance. These factors are commonly understood in an instrumental fashion: establish a good relationship to facilitate the real work of the therapy (whatever that might be). Contrarily, we might view cultivating relational capacities as the essential work and optimal outcome of the therapy insofar as these capacities generalize to other relationships—current and future. This presentation illustrates with four uncommonly considered factors: attachment, mentalizing, trust, and care—and a fifth factor that is both common and unique to each therapy, the therapist.
An Uncommon View of Common Factors in Psychotherapy
Agenda
- 7:30 – 7:35 pm Introduction
- 7:35 – 8:30 pm Presentation
- 8:30 – 9:00 pm Presenter-led question and answer session
Learning Objectives
- Explain common relational factors as outcomes and active components of therapy rather than as preconditions for effective treatment.
- Describe five factors common among therapies as exemplifying this principle: attachment, mentalizing, trust, care, and the therapist’s personal and professional development.
- Apply concepts from the lecture to current clinical cases to enhance therapeutic effectiveness.
Presenter
Jon Allen, PhD
Jon G. Allen, PhD, holds the position of Clinical Professor as a member of the voluntary faculty in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He is an honorary member of the faculty at the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies in Houston and an adjunct faculty member of the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center. Dr. Allen retired from clinical practice after 40 years at The Menninger Clinic, where he taught and supervised fellows and residents along with conducting psychotherapy, diagnostic consultations, psychoeducational programs, and research on clinical outcomes. In retirement he has continued to teach, provide clinical consultation, and write. He is past editor of the Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic and a member of the editorial board of Psychiatry: Interpersonal and Biological Processes. His books include Coping with Trauma: From Self-Understanding to Hope; Coping with Depression: From Catch-22 to Hope; Restoring Mentalizing in Attachment Relationships: Treating Trauma with Plain Old Therapy; Trusting in Psychotherapy and, with coauthors Peter Fonagy and Anthony Bateman, Mentalizing in Clinical Practice, all published by American Psychiatric Publishing. He is also author of Traumatic Relationships and Serious Mental Disorders and coeditor, with Peter Fonagy, of Handbook of Mentalization-Based Treatment, both published by John Wiley and Sons, as well as author of Mentalizing in the Development and Treatment of Attachment Trauma, published by Karnac. His current book (under review) is Bringing Psychotherapy to Life through Caring Connections.
Efrain Bleiberg
References
Allen, J. G. (2022). Trusting in psychotherapy. American Psychiatric Publishing.
Norcross, J. C., & Lambert, M. J. (Eds.). (2019). Psychotherapy relationships that work: Volume 1: Evidence-based therapist contributions (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.
Wampold, B. E., & Flückiger, C. (2023). The alliance in mental health care: Conceptualization, evidence and clinical applications. World Psychiatry, 22, 25–41. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.21118