Research on humanistic-experiential psychotherapies : updated review

Elliott, Robert and Watson, Jeanne C. and Timulak, Ladislav and Sharbanee, Jason; Barkham, Michael and Lutz, Wolfgang and Castonguay, Louis G., eds. (2021) Research on humanistic-experiential psychotherapies : updated review. In: Bergin and Garfield's Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change. John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York. ISBN 9781119536567

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Abstract

We review recent research on humanistic-experiential psychotherapies (HEPs), which include person-centered therapy (PCT), emotion-focused therapy (EFT), gestalt, and psychodrama approaches, along with generic relationship control conditions characterized as supportive or nondirective. A key part of this review is a meta-analysis of 91 studies of the effectiveness/efficacy of HEPs, published between 2009 and 2018, which produced the following results: (1) HEPs were associated with large pre-post client change (d = .86). (2) In controlled studies, clients in HEPs generally showed large gains relative to clients who received no therapy (.88). (3) In comparative outcome studies, HEPs in general were statistically and clinically equivalent in effectiveness to other therapies (-.08). (4) Overall, CBT appeared to have an equivocal advantage over HEPs (-.26). However, these studies were overwhelmingly delivered by CBT researchers in largely non-bona fide versions of HEPs as comparison conditions. Overall, the strongest results were found for EFT, followed by PCT; generic supportive-nondirective approaches were least effective, especially when compared to CBT. HEPs appeared to be most effective with relationship/interpersonal difficulties, self-damaging activities, coping with chronic medical conditions, and psychosis. Findings were more mixed for depression and anxiety. In addition, we offer an updated meta-synthesis of the qualitative outcomes of these therapies, which fell into three main categories: appreciating experiences of self; appreciating experience of self in relationship to others; and changed view of self/others. We also provide narrative reviews of recent qualitative research on helpful and unhelpful factors in HEPs, along with quantitative process-outcome research on HEPs including process-outcome research and work on mediating processes. In an integrative summary we identify a core set of interwoven client change processes involving emotional expression, deepening and transformation, the emergence of new client narratives, and the assimilation of problematic experiences. We conclude with a set of recommendations for research, practice and mental health guideline development.

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