The concept of responsiveness in Behavioral Analytical Therapy and its implications on process-outcome research

Abstract

Clinical practice in psychology presents several demands on the clinician, ranging from theoretical issues, related to the approach adopted by the professional, to those related to the client’s - their personal aspects, therapeutic problems, expectations regarding the treatment, etc. Identifying how and when to respond to all these demands is a challenge for the clinical psychologist, who must be aware on being responsive to the client aiming therapeutic progress. The present article aims to conceptualize the term responsiveness based on the Behavior Analysis science and present some relevant aspects concerning the clinical research. Thus, the origin of the term responsiveness is presented, following by their definitions according to different theoretical approaches. A behavioral analytical definition of responsiveness and its importance for research in psychotherapy is suggested at the end of this article.