Revisiting a meta-analysisof helpful aspects of therapy in a community counselling service

This small scale mixed methods study examines helpful events in a community counselling setting, categorising impacts of events
according to Timulak’s [(2007). Identifying core categories of client identified impact of helpful events in psychotherapy: A qualitative metaanalysis. Psychotherapy Research, 17, 305–314] meta-synthesis of significant events research. Comparisons were made between the types of impacts reported as helpful by clients receiving cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or relational integrative counselling. Seventy-five clients identified 291 significant events on 216 HAT forms. The findings broadly
reflect all nine impacts identified by Timulak (2007). The study also suggests that a potential new category, ‘voicing’ may exist. Differences between the types of impacts reported as helpful by clients in CBT and integrative therapy showed a higher percentage of CBT clients reporting ‘behavioural change/problem solution’, ‘reassurance’ and ‘client involvement’ as helpful. Differences in other categories were not statistically significant.