The Great Psychotherapy Debate: The Evidence for What Makes Psychotherapy Work

by Bruce E. Wampold, Zac E. Imel

The second edition of The Great Psychotherapy Debate has been updated and revised to expand the presentation of the Contextual Model, which is derived from a scientific understanding of how humans heal in a social context and explains findings from a vast array of psychotherapies studies. This model provides a compelling alternative to traditional research on psychotherapy, which tends to focus on identifying the most effective treatment for particular disorders through emphasizing the specific ingredients of treatment. The new edition also includes a history of healing practices, medicine, and psychotherapy, an examination of therapist effects, and a thorough review of the research on common factors such as the alliance, expectations, and empathy.

Genres: Psychology

331 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2015

About the author

Bruce E. Wampold is the Patricia L. Wolleat Professor of Counseling Psychology and clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin—Madison.
Wampold is known for developing the contextual model of psychotherapy, which constitutes an alternative to the prevailing theory of the effectiveness of psychotherapy, known as the medical model.
Wampold is a fellow of the American Psychological Association, and received the Association's Award for Distinguished Professional Contributions to Applied Research in 2007.