Where oh where are the clients? The use of client factors in counselling psychology

Abstract

Content and FocusClient factors have been sorely neglected in counselling psychology. This is despite much research demonstrating their importance for therapeutic outcomes. The present paper reviews the use of client factors in counselling psychology. In the last few years an emerging group of authors have begun to put the client back on centre stage. A new philosophy of the client is blossoming: the client as an active self-healer. The role of the therapist is not redundant, however. The latest common factors research shows that it is the interaction of the common factors which accounts for outcomes. The therapist facilitates the conditions which harness these self-healing capacities of the client.ConclusionsIn order to fully harness client abilities, therapists should actively manipulate both internal and external client factors. It is suggested that client feedback provides an empirically supported example of how these abilities can be exploited. More research is required in this domain, particularly examining what clients may themselves to do ensure they get the most out of the therapeutic process.