Premature Termination in Psychotherapy: Strategies for Engaging Clients and Improving Outcomes

221 Pages·2014·1.642 MB·English

by  Joshua K. Swift and Roger P. Greenberg

Premature
Termination in
Psychotherapy

Premature
Termination in
Psychotherapy

STRATEGIES FOR ENGAGING CLIENTS
AND IMPROVING OUTCOMES
Joshua K. Swift and Roger P. Greenberg
American Psychological Association • Washington, DC
Copyright © 2015 by the American Psychological Association. All rights reserved. Except
as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, including, but not limited to, the
process of scanning and digitization, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the
prior written permission of the publisher.
Published by To order
American Psychological Association APA Order Department
750 First Street, NE P.O. Box 92984
Washington, DC 20002 Washington, DC 20090-2984
www.apa.org Tel: [phone]; Direct: [phone]
Fax: [phone]; TDD/TTY: [phone]
Online: www.apa.org/books/
E-mail: [email protected]
In the U.K., Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, copies may be ordered from
American Psychological Association
3 Henrietta Street
Covent Garden, London
WC2E 8LU England
Typeset in Goudy by Circle Graphics, Inc., Columbia, MD
Printer: Maple Press, York, PA
Cover Designer: Mercury Publishing Services, Inc., Rockville, MD
The opinions and statements published are the responsibility of the authors, and such
opinions and statements do not necessarily represent the policies of the American
Psychological Association.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Swift, Joshua K., author.
Premature termination in psychotherapy : strategies for engaging clients and improving
outcomes / by Joshua K. Swift and Roger P. Greenberg. — First edition.
p. ; cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-1-4338-1801-1
ISBN-10: 1-4338-1801-9
I. Greenberg, Roger P., author. II. American Psychological Association, issuing body.
III. Title.
[DNLM: 1. Patient Dropouts—psychology. 2. Psychotherapy—methods. 3. Treatment
Refusal—psychology. 4. Professional-Patient Relations. WM 420]
RC480.5
616.89'14—dc23
2014009044
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A CIP record is available from the British Library.
Printed in the United States of America
First Edition
http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/14469-000
13676-00_FM-3rdPgs.indd 4 6/26/14 11:11 AM
This book is dedicated with love and gratitude to our families,
our mentors, our students, and our clients.
For Rebecca, Julia, Ethan, Christian, Elliott, and Agnes
—Joshua K. Swift
For Vicki, Michael, Lisa, Hunter, and Spencer
—Roger P. Greenberg
13676-00_FM-3rdPgs.indd 5 6/26/14 11:11 AM
13676-00_FM-3rdPgs.indd 6 6/26/14 11:11 AM
CONTENTS
Introduction .................................................................................................. 3
I. Understanding Premature Termination in Psychotherapy ................. 9
Chapter 1. What Is Premature Termination,
and Why Does It Occur? ................................................. 11
Chapter 2. Predictors of Premature Termination
in Psychotherapy ............................................................. 33
II. Strategies for Reducing Premature Termination .............................. 63
Chapter 3. Provide Role Induction ................................................... 65
Chapter 4. I ncorporate Preferences Into the Treatment
Decision-Making Process ................................................ 79
Chapter 5. Assist in Planning for Appropriate Termination ............ 93
vviiii
13676-00_FM-3rdPgs.indd 7 6/26/14 11:11 AM
Chapter 6. P rovide Education About Patterns of Change
in Psychotherapy ........................................................... 105
Chapter 7. Strengthen Hope ........................................................... 113
Chapter 8. Enhance Motivation for Treatment .............................. 127
Chapter 9. Foster the Therapeutic Alliance ................................... 137
Chapter 10. Assess and Discuss Treatment Progress
With Clients .................................................................. 149
III. Conclusion ........................................................................................ 167
Chapter 11. Conclusions and Future Directions ............................... 169
References ................................................................................................ 185
Index ........................................................................................................ 203
About the Authors ................................................................................... 211
viii contents
13676-00_FM-3rdPgs.indd 8 6/26/14 11:11 AM
Premature
Termination in
Psychotherapy