Woolfe, R., Strawbridge, S., Douglas, B. & Dryden, W. (2009). Handbook of Counselling Psychology, 3.ed. London: SAGE.  Del I, II og IV.

Lately there have been a great focus on trying to ”prove” different psychological approaches with evidence of the effect for mental disorders. This demands measurements and documenting of everything that is done with the client. It fits purely with the humanistic approach of the counselling psychology. Where evidence-based psychology always chooses the approach that have shown the best results for the specific disorder, the methods changes in counselling psychology for the subjective need.

Evidence-based therapy have the benefits of making several consistent effective results, making consistent therapeutic decisions and creating a stronger bond between the academic and professional psychology. Unfortunately you can not directly compare the scientific research with practice. Other things like case studies, supervision, collection of theory and personal reflection is better used. A line must be drawn between knowledge and evidence.

Evidence-based approaches is based on research of treatment effects and price rather than the underlying psychological processes.

Through experience you learn to combine theoretical constructions, models and techniques in ways that are unique for the individual client. This is practice-based evidence.

Evidence-based practice is a threat against the professional autonomy and the client-therapist relationship.

There are political perspectives on evidence as well. Both concerning who can practice what but also in relation to the clients experience of treatment. Further more, the economic perspective of treatment can not be forgotten.

Both research and practice is a part of a bigger process which starts with the client’s phenomenology rather than methodology.

Are you a user or a producer of research evidence? It is important not just to accept the evidence but to ask questions to it. When is something validated enough? What kind of evidence increases the quality of practice?