The Clinical Experience of Therapists in a Training Program: As a Predictor of the Therapy Alliance, Client Dropouts, and Duration of Therapy - Softcover

Revision with unchanged content. This study examined the relationship between student-therapists' clinical experience and three therapeutic factors shown in the literature to be associated with client outcome--the therapy alliance, the number of dropouts, and the number of completed sessions therapists have with their clients. Data were gathered from 24 student-therapists and 420 cases seen at an accredited Marriage and Family Therapy program in the Southeast. Clinical experience was measured using two formats: time in the training program and the number of client-contact hours accrued by student-therapists. Results showed a negative, significant relationship between clinical experience and the number of dropouts, and a positive, significant relationship between clinical experience and the number of sessions completed with clients.

Austin Houghtaling received his Master's Degree from Auburn University in Human Development and Family Studies with an option in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is currently working on a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy at Texas Tech University. Scott Ketring is an Associate Professor in Marriage and Family Therapy at Auburn University.