Effective Counseling and Psychotherapy: An Integrative Review of Research

Abstract

A review of research relevant to the practice of psychotherapy is presented. Research on the central role of cognition in emotional behavior is reviewed as the basis for the therapeutic approach known as cognitive behavior modification. The three stages of the therapeutic approach offer the potential of a unified explanation for the effectiveness of a variety of therapeutic schools as well as a basis for integrating psychology and theology in therapeutic practice. The potential for a theology of the thought life informing therapeutic practice is explored. Finally, the cognitive behavior modification model is embedded in an interpersonal view of therapy to account for the overwhelming evidence of the importance of the therapeutic relationship in effective therapy. The influence of client-therapist value similarity and therapist's characteristics on the quality of the therapeutic relationship are explored. The biblical and psychological data reviewed suggest a fruitful approach to formulating effective and integrated intervention techniques.