A counselling centre in Pune studied 120 clients treated by twelve therapists. Some therapists used behaviour therapy, some used cognitive therapy and some used client-centred therapy. In every group, clients who were eager to change and who believed the treatment would help them improved faster. In every group, clients also did better with therapists who were cheerful, emotionally settled and in good mental health themselves. These links held whichever therapy was used and whichever therapist the client met.
Which of the following best describes the features that helped the clients improve in this study?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Non-specific factors, seen as patient variables and therapist variables
Option (1) Non-specific factors, seen as patient variables and therapist variables — Correct. Features that help healing across all systems of therapy, all clients and all therapists are non-specific factors. The clients' eagerness and hope are patient variables; the therapists' cheerful nature and good mental health are therapist variables.
Option (2) Therapeutic alliance, seen as the bond of client and therapist — Incorrect. The therapeutic alliance heals through the therapist's regular availability, warmth and empathy. The study found the clients' own eagerness and hope and the therapists' own mental health, which are non-specific factors.
Option (3) Self-actualisation, seen as the client's innate need to grow — Incorrect. Self-actualisation is an innate or inborn force that moves the person to become complex, balanced and integrated. Eagerness to change and hope of improvement are patient variables.
Option (4) Patient variables, seen as the clients' motivation and hope — Incorrect. Patient variables cover only the client's motivation for change and expectation of improvement. The therapists' positive nature and good mental health are therapist variables, so this names only part of what helped.
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