Patterns of Change in Psychotherapy

Dr. John Hills, Leeds Beckett University

Throughout the history of psychotherapy, a great variety of models have been advanced to describe therapeutic change. Put simply: what does change look like, and how is change facilitated? In this presentation we review leading examples of theories of change within psychotherapy. We will consider some of the leading stage-based models of change, such as offered by Carl Rogers from a person-centered tradition, and a psychoanalytic model, as conceptualized by Sheldon Cashdan. We will also consider leading state-based concepts, including around sudden gains in psychotherapy and the contemporary contributions of dynamic systems theory. We will also consider therapeutic conditions associated with change including client factors, the therapeutic relationship, and the placebo effect. Finally, we will consider transtheoretical concepts of change – those efforts across the different schools of psychotherapy to find a common language.

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