Empirically Supported Treatments

Psychology is a science.  As such, a typical psychology course (i.e., learning and memory, cognitive psychology) will review the classic and contemporary empirical research relevant to the area of investigation followed by an examination of the theories spawned by that research.  There is one area of study in psychology that does not fit well with the empirical research to theory organization.  Psychotherapy.   The reason it does not fit well with a research-theory approach is due to the lack of empirical research to support many of the existing theories.  There are 54 divisions of the American Psychological Association (APA) and only three of those divisions address the central theme of psychotherapy--clinical psychology, counseling psychology, and psychoanalysis.  Unfortunately, it is psychotherapy, the least scientific sub-field of psychology, which addresses issues most relevant to a Christian psychology.  The APA is aware of this inconsistency and is attempting to remedy it by identifying empirical research that supports theories of psychotherapy.  In his Manifesto for a Science of Clinical Psychology, McFall (1991) stated, “we must make a greater effort to differentiate between scientific and pseudoscientific clinical psychology and to hasten the day when the former replaces the later” (p. 76).  In an attempt to improve the credibility of psychotherapeutic systems, Division 12 (clinical psychology) of the APA has spent the past two decades collecting research regarding what it refers to as empirically supported treatments (EST’s).  While there was early identification of research supporting a few cognitive and behavioral treatments for a handful of obscure psychological issues, within the past few years solid empirical support for both cognitive and behavioral therapies has been identified for the treatment of more mainstream issues. 

Symbiosis or Unity

I often think back on the courses I took when I was a university student to identify specific class sessions and experiences that had an influence in shaping me as a Christian psychologist.  Recalling those experiences reminds me that God has been active in directing my path and encourages me to pass along some of the lessons I have learned to my own students.  I would like to share with you an experience from one of those class sessions.