In Search of the Structure of Change

Abstract

Hundreds of psychotherapy outcome studies have taught us that people successfully change with the help of professional treatments (Smith et al., 1980). These same studies have taught us very little, however, about how people change with therapy. Numerous studies have also taught us that the majority of people with problems change without the benefit of therapy (Shapiro et al., 1984). These studies have taught us very little, however, about how people change on their own.