About the group
Through the project "An intensive process-outcome study of the interpersonal aspects of psychotherapy" the POET research group has collected and stored data from 48 adult clients who have completed individual therapy with one of 18 highly experienced psychotherapists. This material includes audio recordings of all therapy sessions, the therapist's and client's assessment of each therapy session, standardized measures of the client's symptom load, interpersonal problems and the collaboration between the two parties (the working alliance) throughout the course of treatment, as well as interviews at the end of treatment and up to three years afterwards. This constitutes a rich database that enables in-depth analysis of the process and outcome of psychotherapy.
Aims
An overall goal for the various sub-projects that this research group is engaged in is to develop knowledge that is useful and relevant for psychotherapeutic activities, as well as knowledge that can contribute to the integration of different models and concepts to understand change processes in psychotherapy.
Results
Overall, good results were obtained measured by the OQ-45 and IIP-64 at treatment termination and exceptionally good results for clients above clinical cut-off (Lambert et al., 2006) measured at follow-up (i.e., 3½ years post therapy). The combination of these long-term effects, no drop out, and minimal utilization by clients of psychotherapy in the follow-up period, suggest that overall, the performances of these therapists can be conceptualized as expert performance.
The research group has published results covering a wide range of topics related to this, e.g., on the maintenance of therapeutic results, on therapist strategies early in therapy and alliance work, on thematic shifts in therapy, on growth facilitating processes in challenging and difficult to treat cases, and topic related to termination of psychotherapy.
See list of publications from the POET project at the bottom of this page.
Sub-Projects
The members conduct a number of different sub-studies and meet regularly for professional discussions. This involve theory-building studies of individual cases or studies of selected clinical phenomena as these can be elucidated through group studies. Examples of topics that members of the research group have investigated include how experienced therapists work and negotiate goals and working methods (working alliance) during the first therapy sessions, how the alliance is maintained over time, and how the parties later arrive at a shared understanding of what they have achieved through the treatment and how it can be terminated. Other topics include what characterizes the work of experienced therapists in complex and demanding therapy processes, possible factors related to continued positive change versus relapse after the end of therapy, and how we can understand the concept of expertise in psychotherapy.
Financial support
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Norwegian Research Council: project no. 175272
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Department of Psychology, University of Oslo
Collaboration
All researchers participating in the group use data from the database built up in the period 2006-2016, with support from the Research Council of Norway and the University of Oslo. The group collaborates with international psychotherapy research communities, including through the Society for Psychotherapy Research (SPR). The project advisory board consists of Prof. David Orlinsky (University of Chicago), Prof. Robert Elliott (University of Strathclyde), Prof. Bruce Wampold (University of Wisconsin), and Prof. Leslie Greenberg (York University).
Contact information
See web page at Department of Psychology, University of Oslo
Publications from the POET-project:
Peer-reviewed publications
Benum, K. & Halvorsen, M. S. (2013). Terapeuten som emosjonelt anker, I K. Benum, E. Axelsen & E. J. Hartmann (Red.), God psykoterapi: Et integrativt perspektiv (s. 219–246). Oslo: Pax.
Ekroll, V. B. (2015). Langtidseffekter av psykoterapi. Tidsskrift for Norsk psykologforening, 52, 334-337.
Ekroll, V. B., & Rønnestad, M. H. (2016). Processes and changes experienced by clients during and after naturalistic good-outcome therapies conducted by experienced psychotherapists. Psychotherapy Research, 27, 450–468.
Ekroll, V. B., & Rønnestad, M. H. (2017). Exploring associations between therapy factors and post-therapy development after naturalistic psychotherapies. Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-017-9366-7
Ekroll, V. B., & Rønnestad, M. H. (2018). Pathways towards different long-term outcomes after naturalistic psychotherapy. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 25 (2), 292-301. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2162
Halvorsen, M.S., Benum, K., Haavind, H., & McLeod, J. (2016). A Life-Saving Therapy: The Theory-Building Case of "Cora". Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy, http://pcsp.libraries.rutgers.edu Volume 12, Module 3, Article 1, pp. 158-193, 10-16-16.
Halvorsen, M.S., Benum, K., Haavind, H., Stänicke, E., & McLeod, J. (2017). How Usual is Treatment as Usual? Experienced Therapists’ Reflections on Participation in Practice-based Research. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, Special issue: Practice-Based Research and counselling Psychology. doi: 10.1080/09515070.2017.1397502
Halvorsen, M.S., McLeod, J., Benum, K., & Haavind, H. (2016). Response to Commentaries on A Life-Saving Therapy: The Theory-Building Case of "Cora": Conceptualizing the Complexity of Change in Psychotherapy: The Case of “Cora”. Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy, http://pcsp.libraries.rutgers.edu Volume 12, Module 3, Article 5, pp. 224-237, 10-16-16.
Oddli, H. (2012). Hvordan erfarne terapeuter integrerer metoder og teknikker i det innledende alliansearbeidet: Improvisasjon og implisitte forhandlinger. Mellanrummet: Tidsskrift om barn- og ungdomspsykoterapi. ISSN 1404-5559. 27, s 66- 70.
Oddli, H. (2013). Forskningsbasert kunnskap i klinisk praksis, I: K. Benum; E. Axelsen & E. J. Hartmann (Red.), God Psykoterapi: Et Integrativt Perspektiv. Pax Forlag. Kap. 11. s 293 – 315. ISBN 978-82-530-3598-7.
Oddli, H. (2014). Klinisk ekspertise: Hvordan bruker erfarne terapeuter kunnskap? I: Anna Louise von der Lippe; Helene A Nissen-Lie & Hanne Oddli (red.), Psykoterapeuten. En antologi om terapeutens rolle i psykoterapi. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISBN 9788205472136. Kap. 3.
Oddli, H. & Halvorsen, M. S. (2014). Experienced Psychotherapists’ Reports of Their Assessments, Predictions, and Decision Making in the Early Phase of Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy. ISSN 0033-3204. 51(2), s 295- 307. doi: 10.1037/a0029843
Oddli, H. W., Halvorsen, M. S., & Rønnestad, M. H. (2014, October). Expertise demonstrated: What does it mean to be an expert psychotherapist? [Web article]. Retrieved from: http://societyforpsychotherapy.org/expertise-demonstrated
Oddli, H. & McLeod, J. (2017). Knowing-in-relation: how experienced therapists integrate different sources of knowledge in actual clinical practice. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 27, 107-119.
Oddli, H., Mcleod, J., Reichelt, S., & Rønnestad, M. H. (2014). Strategies used by experienced therapists to explore client goals in early sessions of psychotherapy. European Journal of Psychotherapy. ISSN 1364-2537. 16(3), s 245- 266. doi: 10.1080/13642537.2014.927380
Oddli, H., Nissen-Lie, H., & Halvorsen, M. (2016). Common therapeutic change principles as “sensitizing concepts”: A key perspective in psychotherapy integration and clinical research. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 26, 160-171.http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/int0000033.
Oddli, H. & Rønnestad, M. H. (2012). How experienced therapists introduce the technical aspects in the initial alliance formation: Powerful decision makers supporting clients' agency. Psychotherapy Research, 22 (2), s 176- 193. doi: 10.1080/10503307.2011.633280. ISSN 1050-3307.
Reichelt, S., Skjerve, J. & McLeod. J. (2017a). Topic-focused analysis in the case of Sophie
Reichelt, S., Skjerve, J. & McLeod, J. (2017b). Topic-focused analysis of verbal interaction in a case of integrative therapy with a young woman presenting with symptoms of depression. British Journal of Guiding and Counselling, 45 (1), s. 42-55. doi: 10.1080/03069885.2017.1167165. ISSN 0306-9885.
Reichelt, S., Skjerve, J. & McLeod, J. (2017c). Topic-focused analysis of verbal interaction in a case of integrative therapy for depression and emotional turmoil. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 27 (2), 236-253. Doi: 10.1037/int0000057
Reichelt, S., Skjerve, J. & McLeod, J. (2018) Topic-focused analysis in a case of integrative psychotherapy with a father fearing his own anger. European Journal of Psychotherapy, 20 (2), 134-163. doi: 10.1080/13642357.2018.1459769. ISSN 1364-2537.
Rønnestad, M. H. (2016). Is expertise in psychotherapy a usefull construct. Psychotherapy Bulletin, 51 (1), 11-13.
Rønnestad, M. H, (2018). On expertise. The Integrative Therapist. Society for the Integration of Psychotherapy, 4 (2), 17-26.
Rønnestad, M. H., Benum, K., Ekroll, V., Gullestad, S. E., Haavind, H., Nissen-Lie, H. A., Oddli, H. W., Reichelt, S., Råbu, M., Stänicke, E., von der Lippe, A. L., & Halvorsen, M. S. (2018). Clinical outcomes of highly experienced therapists: Towards an understanding of expertise in psychotherapy? Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy
Råbu, M. (2012). Å få til en god nok avslutning av terapi. Impuls: Tidsskrift for psykologi, 2, 54- 63
Råbu (2014). Kvalitativ psykoterapiforskning: metodiske utfordringer, dilemmaer og muligheter, Matrix, 1, 32-45.
Råbu, M., Binder, P.E. & Haavind, H. (2013) Negotiating ending: A qualitative study of the process of ending psychotherapy. European Journal of Psychotherapy and Counselling, 15, 274-295.
Råbu, M. Halvorsen, M.S. & Haavind, H. (2011). Early relationship struggles: A case study of alliance formation and reparation. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 11, 23- 33 (Special issue: The contribution of systematic case study research to building an evidence base for counselling and psychotherapy).
Råbu, M., & Haavind, H. (2017). Coming to terms: Client subjective experiences from ending psychotherapy, Counselling Psychology Quarterly, Advance online publication, February 28. http://www.tandfonline.com/action/showCitFormats?doi=10.1080%2F09515070.2017.1296410
Råbu, M. & Haavind, H. (2012). Coming to an end: A case study of an ambiguous process of ending. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 12, 109-117.
Råbu, M., & Haavind, H. (2017). ”Hvor langt kom vi?” Felles utforskning av bedring i siste fase av psykoterapi [“Where did we arrive in the end?” Conjoint exploration of improvement in the last phase of psychotherapy], Tidsskrift for Norsk Psykologforening, 54, 284-293 [Journal for the Norwegian Psychological Association].
Råbu, M., Haavind, H. & Binder, P. E. (2013). We have travelled a long distance and sorted out the mess in the drawers: Metaphors for moving toward the end in psychotherapy Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 13, 71-80.
Skjerve, J. & Reichelt, S. (Submitted). Endringer i samtaleemnene i løpet av psykoterapi: En prosessanalyse illustrert med funn fra integrative terapier.
Skjerve, J., Reichelt, S., McLeod, J. (2017) Manual for Topic Change Process Analysis (TCPA): A case study method
Rønnestad, M. H., Benum, K., Ekroll, V., Gullestad, S. E., Haavind, H., Nissen-Lie, H. A., Oddli, H. W., Reichelt, S., Råbu, M., Stänicke, E., von der Lippe, A. L., & Halvorsen, M. S. (Submitted). Clinical outcomes of highly experienced therapists: Towards an understanding of expertise in psychotherapy?
Skjerve, J., Reichelt, S. & McLeod, J. (2016). Topic change processes in psychotherapy: A case study approach. In Qualitative Research in Psychotherapy. Advanced online publication. DOI: 10.1080/14780887.2016.11966405.
von der Lippe, A. L., Oddli, H. W., & Halvorsen, M. S. (2017). Therapist strategies early in therapy associated with good or poor outcomes among clients with low proactive agency, Psychotherapy Research, DOI: 10.1080/10503307.2017.1373205
PhD-theses:
Ekroll, V. B. (2018). Pathways towards different long-term outcomes after psychotherapy: An explorative mixed methods project. Doctoral thesis. http://hdl.handle.net/10852/61541
Oddli, H. (2012). Technical aspects in the initial alliance formation. Qualitative analyses of experienced therapists' behavior and post-treatment reflections. Doctoral thesis.
Råbu, M. (2011). Relational development in psychotherapy from beginning to end: Connecting structural and interpersonal aspects of psychotherapy. PhD thesis, Department of Psychology, University of Oslo.
Conference Presentations:
Benum, K. (presenter) & Halvorsen, M. S. (2011). A lifesaving bond. When the therapeutic alliance is threatened by persistent suicidality. Paper presented at the SPR Conference, Bern, Switzerland, June 29 to July 2, 2011.
Benum, K. (presenter) & Halvorsen, M. S. (2013). The researcher, the therapist and the client: Integrating different voices in a case study of bond formation. Paper presented at the SEPI Annual meeting, Barcelona, Spain, 7th to 9th of June, 2013.
Benum, K., Halvorsen, M., Oddli, H. W., & Stänicke, E. (2015). Ekspertterapeuters egne opplevelser: refleksjoner over integrasjon av klinisk praksis, psykoterapiopplæring og forskning. Kongress ved Norsk Psykologforening: Nøkler til endring; 2015-09-03 - 2015-09-04.
Ekroll, V. B., & Rønnestad, M. H. (2014). Paths to different post-therapy movements: A mixed methods follow-up study. Society for Psychotherapy Research, International meeting; 2014-06-25 - 2014-06-28
Ekroll, V. B. & Rønnestad, M. H. (2015). Treatment factors of potential relevance to long-term outcome: -An exploration from the clients’ perspective. 46th Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychotherapy Research; 2015-06-24 - 2015-06-27 (Poster)
Halvorsen, M., Benum, K., Oddli, H. W., & Stänicke, E. (2015). How usual is treatment as usual? Erfarne terapeuters refleksjoner over forskningsdeltagelse. Kongress ved Norsk Psykologforening: Nøkler til endring; 2015-09-03 - 2015-09-04.
Halvorsen, M. S., Benum, K., Stänicke, E. & Oddli, H. W. (2015). How usual is treatment as usual? Experienced therapists’ reflections on research participation. Paper presented at the SPR Conference, Philadelphia, USA, June 24th to 28th, 2015.
Halvorsen, M. S. (presenter), Benum, K., Haavind, H., von der Lippe, A. L., Nissen-Lie, H., Oddli, H. W., Råbu, M., Stänicke, E., & Rønnestad, M. H. (2014). How does alliance work develop in phases of psychotherapy? Paper presented at the SPR Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 25th to 28th, 2014.
Halvorsen, M. S. (presenter), Rønnestad, M. H., von der Lippe, A. L., Axelsen, E., Haavind, H., Gullestad, S., Reichelt, S., & Røed Hansen, B. (2010). Convergence of alliance ratings in a sample of highly experienced teacher-therapists and their clients. Paper presented at the SPR Conference, Asilomar, USA, June 23 to 27, 2010.
Mackrill, T., Stiles, W. B., Levitt, H. M., Oddli, H. (2014). Structured Discussion: Client agency - where are we heading? Society for Psychotherapy Research 45th International Annual Meeting; 2014-06-25 - 2014-06-28.
Oddli, H. (2013). The link between research and actual clinical practice: Interpersonal integration. SEPI XXIXth Annual Meeting; 2013-06-06 - 2013-06-09
Oddli, H. (2015). Expert therapists as clinicians and research participants. Society for Psychotherapy Research 46th International Annual Meeting, Philadelphia. Panel presentation.
Oddli, H., Benum, K., Halvorsen, M. S., & Stänicke, E. (2015). Expert therapists as clinicians and research participants. Society for Psychotherapy Research 46th Annual Meeting; 2015-06-24 - 2015-06-27.
Oddli, H. W, Benum, K., Halvorsen, M., & Stänicke, E. (2015). Klinisk ekspertise – hva er det og hvordan viser det seg i praksis? Analyser av ekspertterapeuter som klinikere, lærere og forskningsdeltakere. Kongress ved Norsk Psykologforening: Nøkler til endring; 2015-09-03 - 2015-09-04
Oddli, H. & Halvorsen, M. S. (2011). Experienced therapists’ reports of their assessments, predictions and decision-making in the early phase of psychotherapy. Society for Psychotherapy Research 42nd International Meeting, Bern; 2011-06-29 - 2011-07-02
Oddli, H., Nissen-Lie, H. A., Mcleod, J., Rønnestad, M. H., & Halvorsen, M. S (2017). Goal consensus between client and therapist. A mixed-method study. Society for Psychotherapy Research, 48th Annual International Meeting; 2017-06-21 - 2017-06-24
Oddli, H. & Mcleod, J. (2016). Understanding psychotherapy integration: qualitative analyses of how experienced psychotherapists integrate knowledge in actual practice. SEPI 32nd Annual Meeting; 2016-06-16 - 2016-06-18
Oddli, H. & Rønnestad, M. H. (2010). Looking for goal consensus - finding motivational, engaging dialogues: Challenging the concept of goal consensus in the initial phase of psychotherapy. Society for Psychotherapy Research 41st International Meeting; 2010-06-23 - 2010-06-27
Råbu, M. (2010). Negotiating an end. A case study of an ambiguous process of ending. Paper in panel at the SEPI conference (Society for the exploration of psychotherapy integration) in Florence, Italy, May 27.-30.
Råbu, M., Binder, P.E. & Haavind, H. (2011). Negotiating ending: A qualitative study of the process of ending psychotherapy. Paper in panel at the SPR conference (Society for Psychotherapy Research) in Bern, Switzerland, June 30. July 3.
Råbu, M., Halvorsen, M.S. & Haavind, H. (2010) Early relationship struggles. A case study of alliance formation and reparation. Paper in panel at the SPR conference (Society for Psychotherapy Research) in Asilomar, California, USA, June 23.-27.
Råbu, M. & Haavind, H. (2013). Creating analytical procedures in the service of making results from psychotherapy research relevant for clinical practice. Paper in panel at SEPI conference (Society for the exploration of psychotherapy integration) in Barcelona, Spain, June 6.-9.
Råbu, M., Haavind, H. & Binder, P.E. (2011). “Do you feel I still have issues to work on?” A qualitative study of how improvement is negotiated in the process of ending psychotherapy. Paper in panel at the SEPI conference (Society for the exploration of psychotherapy integration) in Washington DC, USA, May 19.-22.
Råbu, M., Haavind, H. & Binder, P.-E. (2012). We have travelled a long distance and sorted out the mess in the drawer. Metaphors for moving toward the end in psychotherapy. Paper in panel at SEPI conference (Society for the exploration of psychotherapy integration) in Chicago, USA, May 17.-20.
Rønnestad, M. H., Gullestad, S.E., Halvorsen, M. S., Haavind Lippe, A. L. von der; Nissen-Lie, H. A., Reichelt, S. (2014). The outcomes of clients in therapies conducted by highly experienced therapists. Paper presented at the SPR Conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 25th to 28th, 2014.
Stänicke, Erik; Benum, Kirsten; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Oddli, Hanne (2015). Timing as an aspect of expertise. Society for Psychotherapy Research 46th Annual Meeting; 2015-07-24 - 2015-07-27
Stänicke, Erik; Benum, Kirsten; Halvorsen, Margrethe S.; Oddli, Hanne (2015). Timing som et aspekt ved terapeutisk ekspertise. Kongress ved Norsk Psykologforening: Nøkler til endring; 2015-09-03 - 2015-09-04
Von der Lippe, A., Oddli, H. W., & Halvorsen, M. (2014). How do highly experienced therapists succeed with ‘difficult to treat’ clients? Paper presented at the Society for Psychotherapy Research 45th International Annual Meeting, Copenhagen, Denmark, June 25th to 28th, 2014.