common factors in psychological treatments

Last reviewed 01/2018

There are certain common factors which are important components of any type of psychological treatment. Jerome Frank summarised the important non-specific factors as follows:

  • a rapport between therapist and client which should be intense, emotionally charged, confidential and accepting
  • hope, in the patient, for a cure
  • theory or rationale for patient to understand problem
  • new infomation coming to light in the course of therapy
  • success must occur at some point in the therapy to reinforce it
  • there should be an emotional arousal which results in change Also, other important factors are:
  • time and space
  • personal qualities of the interviewer