Assessing and Accommodating Client Preferences: The Why and the Who

Accommodating clients’ preferences in therapy has been shown to dramatically reduce dropout and improve outcomes. But what is not clear is the processes by which preference assessment and accommodation might bring about these outcomes. Understanding these mechanisms is important to be able to predict which clients, and in which situations, preference work may be most helpful – and most unhelpful. In this talk, Mick Cooper will bring together evidence from across the psychological field to look at the three main mechanisms of action: matching effects, choice effects, and alliance effects. For each of these, Mick will explore the evidence which suggests where, and with whom, these mechanisms may be most, and least, important. For instance, research shows that the preferences of individuals with ‘domain familiarity’ – knowledge of a particular field – are more likely to match what is actually helpful to them; and this means that preference work may be more important where clients have a knowledge of therapy. In this respect, practical implications of the research will also be discussed.