Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

481

Date

2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Psychology

Committee Chair

Jeffrey S. Berman

Committee Member

Heidi Levitt

Committee Member

Roger J. Kreuz

Abstract

Although reflective listening is a technique used by a number of therapeutic orientations, there is little empiricial evidence of its causal impact on psychotherapy outcome. This randomized clinical trial examined whether reflective listening by therapists influences perceptions of empathy or therapeutic outcome. In the study, therapists at a university counseling center were trained to use either a greater or lesser number of reflective responses with clients they treated. Both clients and therapists then completed empathy and outcome measures after each of the first four sessions of treatment. Analyses failed to suggest that therapist reflection actually occurred more frequently in one condition than in the other and there were no statistically significant differences between conditions. Possible reasons for these findings include issues of statistical power and therapist compliance.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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