Exploratory Study of Common Changes in Client Behaviors Following Routine Psychotherapy: Does Psychological Flexibility Typically Change and Predict Outcomes?

This study explored the degree to which aspects of clients’ psychological flexibility, specifically acceptance-and-mindfulness and commitment-and-behavioral activation, changed after episodes of routine psychotherapy and were predictors of outcome changes for a clinically heterogeneous sample (n = 197) in a naturalistic treatment setting. Results showed statistically significant and small improvements in acceptance-and-mindfulness (d = 0.22) and commitment-and-behavioral activation (d = 0.24) and that changes in psychological flexibility were significant predictors of changes in both flourishing and distress, explaining 42% and 23% of those respective therapy outcomes. Whereas a mix of therapy approaches may slightly improve psychological flexibility, more explicit attention to strengthening it might benefit the work of diverse psychotherapists given its potential relevance to achieving common overarching therapy outcomes.
Source: Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research