Contextualizing the negative effects of psychotherapy
Lately, it may seem like we've been focusing exclusively on negative experiences with psychotherapy. Which is far from the case, but here is another article dedicated to the topic: a comprehensive review study that looks at the precise definition of terms, ways of assessing negative effects, the frequency of their occurrence across a range of studies, and suggestions for therapeutic practice and training. In training, for example, the authors recommend making a clear distinction between side effects of correctly administered therapy and client harm. They also suggest focusing on developing a good therapeutic alliance, monitoring the client's progress, and developing the skill of responding to even small signals from the client.
