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Psychology
Student’s Name:
Instructor’s Name:
Date:
The Therapeutic Pyramid
Summary
In therapy, different approaches are used with an aim of attaining specific results. Example of
such approaches are common factors and therapy models. However, research has indicated that
common factors have better outcomes on clients compared to therapy models. Furthermore,
similar researches have determined that the outcome of common elements vary. According to
Fife et al “therapeutic alliance is a common element that accounts for more changes than
techniques” (20). The outcome means that certain factors must be given priority over others.
Therefore, the finding of the study highlights the need to have an alternative to model based
theory.
The article by Fife et al is concerned with creating a meta-model as an alternative to therapy
model and common factors. The alternative model is concerned with the interaction of different
therapeutic factors and the nature of change created. The meta-models studied in the article
include intervention and therapeutic alliance. The goal is to determine how the common factors
interact with one another and the outcome they have on therapy patient. Consequently, the study
suggests using the therapist’s way of being. It is a new factor that is believed to have an impact
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on effective therapy. Hence, the outcome of the study covers the existing factors and new
suggested factors.
The outcome of the study is that the new model is provided in pyramid model. The format is set
up in such a way that the technique is at the tip, the middle is occupied by therapeutic alliance
and the therapist way of being covers the base. The therapist way of being is considered to be the
foundation that holds techniques and therapeutic alliance. The relationship between the concepts
is based on hierarchy hence the use of the pyramid format.
Reflection
I have grown up with the knowledge that therapy is the best way of dealing with any mental
condition. However, I had not understood the technical elements such methods and models used
by therapists. Through this article, I have learnt different approaches used in therapy to attain the
same result. Based on the work by Fife et al, I have learnt that common factors and therapy
models lead to different results. Existence of different outcomes means that the most appropriate
approach should be given priority over the other. Therefore, this understanding led me to the
concept of meta-analytic which is the basis of the research article.
In the process of reading through the article I have learnt the importance of empirical studies.
The authors of the articles have made use of research done by previous scholars as the basis of
some assertions. The article has indicated that “decades of meta-analytic research show that there
is no one model that is consistently effective than the other” (21). The above assertion is based
on the work done by Shadish and Baldwin and it is one example of how empirical review has
been used by the author. It is an aspect that I have noted across the article and I consider to be
important in my future research work.
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Lastly, I have learnt that there are various elements that are common in all the approaches
employed in therapy. The approaches that have been highlighted in the article include client
motivation and therapeutic alliance. This article is well researched and offers a range of
knowledge in the field of therapy.
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Work Cited
Fife, Stephen T., et al. "The therapeutic pyramid: A common factors synthesis of techniques,
alliance, and way of being." Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 40.1 (2014): 20-33.
