Evidenced-Based Practice

American Psychological Association Policy Statement

"Clinical decisions should be made in collaboration with the patient, based on the best clinically relevant evidence, and with consideration for the probable costs, benefits, and available resources and options.  It is the treating psychologist who makes the ultimate judgment regarding a particular intervention or treatment plan.  The involvement of an active, informed patient is generally crucial to the success of psychological services.  Treatment decisions should never be made by untrained persons unfamiliar with the specifics of the case.  The treating psychologist determines the applicability of research conclusions to a particular patient.  Individual patients require decisions and interventions not directly addressed by the available research.  The application of research evidence to a given patient always involves probabilistic inferences.  Therefore, ongoing monitoring of patient progress and adjustment of treatment as needed are essential to evidenced-based psychological practice."

http://www.apa.org/practice/ebpstatement.pdf

A Guide to Beneficial Psychotherapy

Division 12, Society for Clinical Psychology

Anxiety Disorders

http://apa.org/divisions/div12/rev_est/anxiety.html

Borderline Personality Disorder

http://apa.org/divisions/div12/rev_est/bpd.html

 Childhood Disorders

http://apa.org/divisions/div12/rev_est/children.html

Depression

http://apa.org/divisions/div12/rev_est/depression.html

Drug & Alcohol Abuse

http://apa.org/divisions/div12/rev_est/drugs.html

Eating Disorders

http://apa.org/divisions/div12/rev_est/eating.html

Marital Distress

http://apa.org/divisions/div12/rev_est/marital.html

Schizophrenia & Other Severe Mental Illness

http://apa.org/divisions/div12/rev_est/severe.html

Sexual Dysfunction

http://apa.org/divisions/div12/rev_est/sex_dys.html

 Health-Related Problems

http://apa.org/divisions/div12/rev_est/health.html

Hair Pulling

http://apa.org/divisions/div12/rev_est/hair.html

Motivational Interviewing (MI)

The following definition of MI is taken from the website provided below.  "Motivational interviewing is a directive, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence. Compared with nondirective counseling, it is more focused and goal-directed. The examination and resolution of ambivalence is its central purpose, and the counselor is intentionally directive in pursuing this goal."

MI has proven effectiveness in addressing alcohol and drug disorders, dual disorders (major mental illness and substance disorder), HIV-risk behaviors, eating disorders, medication adherence, treatment engagement and retention.

There are many reasons for the popularity of MI, and include the following:

• MI is one of the most thoroughly defined and studied psychosocial interventions.

• MI is relatively brief.

• MI positively impacts treatment engagement and retention.

• MI has been demonstrated to positively impact a wide variety of disorders and populations.

• MI is compatible with many different treatment approaches; for example, combining MI with cognitive-behavioral interventions.

• Therapists find MI appealing and consistent with how they prefer to work with clients.

http://www.motivationalinterview.org/