#28: "Key Factors That Make Psychotherapy TRULY Effective" - with Bruce Wampold, Ph.D.

Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy REALLY superior to Humanistic or Psychodynamic approaches? According to the scientific evidence, what factors ACTUALLY drive the change process, and what skills can therapists strengthen to get better outcomes?

In this episode of The Making Therapy Better Podcast, our host Dr. Bruce Wampold takes the guest seat in a lively conversation with a group of young Brazilian psychologists who are at the heart of a contentious debate gaining national attention in Brazil 🇧🇷: Geissy Araújo, Ph.D., Maurício Majolo, M.S., Lucas Cardoso, and Mateus Souza, M.S.

Together, they discuss:
The common arguments that certain theoretical orientations are superior to others
Whether these claims are supported by the scientific evidence
What the data actually reveal about the change process in psychotherapy
The balance between theory, evidence, and human connection
The path toward a more productive conversation about improving psychotherapy training and outcomes in Brazil and around the world

Bruce reminds us that therapy is not merely a set of techniques — it’s a social and relational healing practice rooted in empathy, collaboration, and meaning.

Be sure to also check out our related episode where Bruce and Scott Miller discuss some of these topics in greater detail:
#21: "What Makes Therapy Work?" - Scott Miller, PhD interviews Bruce Wampold, PhD (S3, E1):
   • #21: "What Makes Therapy Work?" - Scott Mi...  

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Bruce Wampold, Ph.D. | Emeritus Professor, University of Wisconsin–Madison; Author of "The Great Psychotherapy Debate: The Evidence for What Makes Psychotherapy Work" -- and among the most influential psychotherapy researchers alive today.

Geissy Araújo, PhD, is a psychotherapist, neuroscientist, and professor whose path weaves together science, contemplative practice, and care for human experience. She has dedicated her work to making mental health practices more accessible and culturally rooted.

Mateus Souza, M.S., is a professor, psychotherapist, and clinical supervisor. He teaches contextual intervention models. He also coordinates "Clinicar no Tempo" Presente — a study group dedicated to exploring the dialogue between the human sciences and clinical practice.

Maurício Majolo, M.S., is a psychotherapist, professor, and researcher interested in clinical process research, common factors of therapeutic effectiveness, and the study of consciousness and psychological change.

Lucas Cardoso is a psychotherapist, currently pursuing a Master’s degree at Universidade São Francisco- Brazil. His interests include integrative models of psychotherapy, clinical research, evidence-based practices, and measurement-based care.

Other members of the group that were not in the interview:

Rafael Alessandro Bossoni is a psychotherapist whose work focuses on the intersection of psychology and society, with a particular interest in how the medicalization of life shapes professional practice in health care.

Luana Pereira – Clinical psychologist, specialized in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. She researches sociopolitical themes and their implications in contextual clinical practice.

Yuri Lelis Rafael, M.S., is a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor, with interests in the therapeutic alliance, substance use–related disorders, and the development of therapeutic style among mental health professionals.

João Ribeiro is a senior Psychology student conducting theoretical and conceptual research. He is the founder of "PensandoPsi", a community dedicated to exploring the philosophy of psychological science.

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This episode was produced and edited by Geissy Araújo, Ph.D. and Kevin Riordan.

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The Making Therapy Better podcast is brought to you by CarePaths EHR, an electronic health record system designed to help you improve therapy outcomes.https://www.carepaths.com

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00:00 Introduction to the Episode and Guest
03:25 Bruce's Journey into Psychotherapy
08:24 The Role of Personal Experience in Therapy
13:04 Common Factors in Psychotherapy
19:25 The Importance of Therapist-Patient Relationship
27:19 Cultural and Contextual Considerations in Therapy
36:08 Impact of Culturally Adapted Therapy
38:11 Debates on Empirically Supported Treatments
39:47 The Evolution of Evidence-Based Practice
42:10 The Essence of Psychotherapy
44:10 Future of Therapist Training
47:26 Science Communication in Psychotherapy
49:25 Measurement-Based Care and Therapist Improvement
01:00:22 Advice for New Therapists
01:03:08 The Role of AI and Technology in Therapy
01:04:59 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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#Psychotherapy #TherapySkills #Counseling #HumanisticTherapy #EmotionFocusedTherapy #PluralisticTherapy #cognitivebehavioraltherapy #TherapistTraining #ClinicalSupervision #BruceWampold #MakingTherapyBetter #MentalHealth

Intro/outro music by Chris Haugen, free for public use.