The question of whether all psychotherapies are all roughly equally effective (known as the Dodo bird verdict) and the question of whether all effective psychotherapies share common factors (known as common factors theory) are two different questions: "Though many authors view outcome equivalence as the main reason to study common factors in psychotherapy, we cheerfully disagree. Regardless of outcome, it is noncontroversial to say that psychotherapies of many origins share several features of process and content, and it follows that better understanding the patterns of these commonalities may be an important part of better understanding the effects of psychotherapies. That is, irrespective of whether some psychotherapies are equivalent to others in symptomatic outcome, understanding what part of clients' improvement is due to factors that are shared by several approaches appears to us to be a conceptually and clinically important question." (McAleavey & Castonguay 2015, p. 294) McAleavey, Andrew A; Castonguay, Louis G (2015). "The Process of Change in Psychotherapy: Common and Unique Factors". In Gelo, Omar CG; Pritz, Alfred; Rieken, Bernd (eds.). Psychotherapy Research. New York: Springer. pp. 293–310. doi:10.1007/978-3-7091-1382-0_15. ISBN9783709113813. OCLC900722269.
See also Frank 1971, p. 350: "A historical overview of Western psychotherapy reveals that the dominant psychotherapeutic approach of an era reflects contemporary cultural attitudes and values, and that the same techniques (e.g., abreaction) reappear under new names. Common to all psychotherapies are (a) an emotionally charged, confiding relationship; (b) a therapeutic rationale accepted by patient and therapist; (c) provision of new information by precept, example and self-discovery; (d) strengthening of the patient's expectation of help; (e) providing the patient with success experiences; and (f) facilitation of emotional arousal. Prevalent forms of disability and their treatment include drug therapy for constitutional vulnerabilities, emotional support for environmental crises, spiritual guidance for existential anxieties, and therapeutic maneuvers to correct faulty perceptual and behavioral habits learned early in life. Only the latter form requires therapists trained in specific psychotherapeutic methods." Frank, Jerome D (July 1971). "Therapeutic factors in psychotherapy". American Journal of Psychotherapy. 25 (3): 350–361. doi:10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1971.25.3.350. PMID4936109.
The question of whether all psychotherapies are all roughly equally effective (known as the Dodo bird verdict) and the question of whether all effective psychotherapies share common factors (known as common factors theory) are two different questions: "Though many authors view outcome equivalence as the main reason to study common factors in psychotherapy, we cheerfully disagree. Regardless of outcome, it is noncontroversial to say that psychotherapies of many origins share several features of process and content, and it follows that better understanding the patterns of these commonalities may be an important part of better understanding the effects of psychotherapies. That is, irrespective of whether some psychotherapies are equivalent to others in symptomatic outcome, understanding what part of clients' improvement is due to factors that are shared by several approaches appears to us to be a conceptually and clinically important question." (McAleavey & Castonguay 2015, p. 294) McAleavey, Andrew A; Castonguay, Louis G (2015). "The Process of Change in Psychotherapy: Common and Unique Factors". In Gelo, Omar CG; Pritz, Alfred; Rieken, Bernd (eds.). Psychotherapy Research. New York: Springer. pp. 293–310. doi:10.1007/978-3-7091-1382-0_15. ISBN9783709113813. OCLC900722269.
For example: Tschacher, Junghan & Pfammatter 2014 Tschacher, Wolfgang; Junghan, Ulrich Martin; Pfammatter, Mario (January 2014). "Towards a taxonomy of common factors in psychotherapy—results of an expert survey". Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy. 21 (1): 82–96. doi:10.1002/cpp.1822. PMID23129553.
See also Frank 1971, p. 350: "A historical overview of Western psychotherapy reveals that the dominant psychotherapeutic approach of an era reflects contemporary cultural attitudes and values, and that the same techniques (e.g., abreaction) reappear under new names. Common to all psychotherapies are (a) an emotionally charged, confiding relationship; (b) a therapeutic rationale accepted by patient and therapist; (c) provision of new information by precept, example and self-discovery; (d) strengthening of the patient's expectation of help; (e) providing the patient with success experiences; and (f) facilitation of emotional arousal. Prevalent forms of disability and their treatment include drug therapy for constitutional vulnerabilities, emotional support for environmental crises, spiritual guidance for existential anxieties, and therapeutic maneuvers to correct faulty perceptual and behavioral habits learned early in life. Only the latter form requires therapists trained in specific psychotherapeutic methods." Frank, Jerome D (July 1971). "Therapeutic factors in psychotherapy". American Journal of Psychotherapy. 25 (3): 350–361. doi:10.1176/appi.psychotherapy.1971.25.3.350. PMID4936109.
For example: Tschacher, Junghan & Pfammatter 2014 Tschacher, Wolfgang; Junghan, Ulrich Martin; Pfammatter, Mario (January 2014). "Towards a taxonomy of common factors in psychotherapy—results of an expert survey". Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy. 21 (1): 82–96. doi:10.1002/cpp.1822. PMID23129553.
The question of whether all psychotherapies are all roughly equally effective (known as the Dodo bird verdict) and the question of whether all effective psychotherapies share common factors (known as common factors theory) are two different questions: "Though many authors view outcome equivalence as the main reason to study common factors in psychotherapy, we cheerfully disagree. Regardless of outcome, it is noncontroversial to say that psychotherapies of many origins share several features of process and content, and it follows that better understanding the patterns of these commonalities may be an important part of better understanding the effects of psychotherapies. That is, irrespective of whether some psychotherapies are equivalent to others in symptomatic outcome, understanding what part of clients' improvement is due to factors that are shared by several approaches appears to us to be a conceptually and clinically important question." (McAleavey & Castonguay 2015, p. 294) McAleavey, Andrew A; Castonguay, Louis G (2015). "The Process of Change in Psychotherapy: Common and Unique Factors". In Gelo, Omar CG; Pritz, Alfred; Rieken, Bernd (eds.). Psychotherapy Research. New York: Springer. pp. 293–310. doi:10.1007/978-3-7091-1382-0_15. ISBN9783709113813. OCLC900722269.
For an overview of the work of some prominent psychotherapy researchers who have explored this question, see: Castonguay et al. 2010 Castonguay, Louis G; Muran, J Christopher; Angus, Lynne E; Hayes, Jeffrey A; Ladany, Nicholas; Anderson, Timothy, eds. (2010). Bringing psychotherapy research to life: understanding change through the work of leading clinical researchers. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. ISBN9781433807749. OCLC463855600.
