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The ripples of knowledge and the boundaries of practice: The problem of evidence in psychotherapy research

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Philip Barker

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Abstract

The practice of psychotherapy is increasingly compromised in traditional healthcare by the pressures of economic rationalism and the demands for evidence-based practice. The diversity, which has characterised psychotherapy practice to date, risks being compromised by the narrow bandwidth of therapies which are deemed to fulfil the 'gold standard' validation criteria of the randomised controlled trials. Many of the traditional distinctions between schools of psychotherapy are no longer valid, as greater emphasis is placed on integration and the development of more eclectic approaches. Ironically, psychotherapists own efforts to discriminate schools and methods may have fostered the search for the holy grail of the single, most effective, form of psychotherapy. The author proposes that researchers need to highlight the importance of the role of the client as a co-participant in the outcome evaluation of psychotherapy, and to recognise that the discrete needs, wants and wishes of the client represents a challenge to the ideological prejudices of evidence-based practice.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Barker P

Publication type: Review

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of Psychotherapy

Year: 2001

Volume: 6

Issue: 1

Pages: 11-23

Print publication date: 01/01/2001

ISSN (print): 1356-9082

ISSN (electronic): 1469-8498

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13569080120042171

DOI: 10.1080/13569080120042171


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