Outcome Research and Religious Psychotherapies: Where Are We and Where Are We Going?

Abstract

The multitude of religious approaches to psychotherapy are rarely evaluated with established outcome research methodology. Factors contributing to the lack of research in this field are discussed. The author offers an integrative foundation for outcome research. State-of-the-art outcome research design components are reviewed and guidelines are offered for conducting outcome research with religious psychotherapies. These are intended to bind such research around a coherent and meaningful program of empirical validation.