Dawes - The Myth of Expertise

Question 1

What is the main point of the Dawes research?

Answer 1

• Professional and para-professional therapists equally effective
• Does not indicate that para-professionals are more effective, but neither reveals that professionally trained, credentialed therapists are superior

Question 2

Summarize the Strupp and Hadley study

Answer 2

• 15 clients to professors, 15 clients to professionals
• Client problems were depression, anxiety, OCD, (not severe psychoses)
• Found little difference in effectiveness

Question 3

How do professionals with credentials and training respond? (3 ways)

Answer 3

• Suggest the research is flawed
  
  • But importantly, all the studies point in the same direction (para-prof and prof equally effective)
• Interaction effects – type/severity of client
• Criterion used – efficacy of therapy was based on reduction of client symptoms

Question 4

What are “nonspecific effects”?

Answer 4

• Therapy works because of “the quality of the relationship” between client and therapist
• Empathic, trustworthy, warm
• “Accurate empathy”