How Do They Do It? Learning from Peer-Nominated Highly Effective Addiction Counsellors

• Author / Creator

  Kees, Jennifer G.

• While research has demonstrated no differences in effectiveness between the different types of addictions treatments, differences have been found for effectiveness between counsellors. Research has shown that some counsellors who treat addictions, consistently achieve better results than others, a finding that is echoed in general psychotherapy research. At this time, little is known about what specifically contributes to some addiction counsellors being more effective than others. This qualitative study, through the use of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), seeks to gain a deeper understanding of highly effective addiction counsellors’ contributions to positive therapeutic experiences with their clients. Addiction counsellors identified by peer-nomination as being highly effective were interviewed and the data was analyzed based on principles of IPA. The results suggest that highly effective addiction counsellors’ contributions to positive therapeutic outcomes with their clients can be summarized by the themes Meeting the Client Where They Are At, and Working on Myself. Implications for clinical practice and training, as well as suggestions for future research are also addressed.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Addiction
  • Therapist effectiveness
  • Counseling

• Graduation date

  Spring 2016

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Education

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3B853V21

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.