Clinical Psychology

recommended that analysts undergo periodic analyses
so that they could learn to recognize and control them.
In a sense, Rogers turned to the other side of the same
coin and made therapist qualities such as acceptance
and warmth the cornerstones of therapy. Although
Freud may have emphasized the negative and Rogers
the positive, they both set the stage for an understand-
ing of the role of therapist variables in the process of
therapy. Unfortunately, although nearly everyone
agrees that therapist variables are important, there is
much less agreement on specifics. How therapist char-
acteristics contribute to therapy outcome has become
an important research area (Beutler, Machado, &
Neufeldt, 1994; Beutler et al., 2004).

Age, Sex, and Ethnicity. In comprehensive
reviews of therapist features that may influence psy-
chotherapy outcome, Beutler et al. (1994, 2004)
report the available research evidence suggests that

therapist age is not related to outcome, that female

versus male therapists do not appear to produce sig-

nificantly better therapeutic effects, and that patient–

therapist similarity with regard to ethnicity does not

necessarily result in better outcomes. Beutler and

colleagues (1994, 2004) acknowledge that these con-

clusions may run counter to prevailing sociopolitical

opinions. At the same time, they assert that existing

research in this area suffers from a number of meth-

odological problems. These therapist variables may

interact with client characteristics, setting for treat-

ment, and modality of treatment. Again, the solution

seems to be for therapists to become more sensitized

to age, gender, and racial identity issues in relation to

themselves as well as to the patient.

Personality. In discussing therapist variables,

Strupp and Bergin (1969) made two points worth

noting. First, even though the evidence shows that

The outcome of psychotherapy is influenced by a number of variables, including client characteristics, therapist
qualities and skills, the problems for which relief is sought, and the therapeutic procedures that are used.

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326 CHAPTER 11