21 More Secrets of Supertherapists

In a previous article, entitled, The First 21 Secrets of Supertherapists, we outlined exactly that – 21 secrets that Supertherapists know that ordinary therapists do not. This current article introduces 21 more secrets. Let us go ahead and have fun.

Secret #22: Supertherapists pay close attention to their baseline outcomes at all times.[1]

Secret #23: Supertherapists are persistent.

Secret #24: Supertherapists make small but consistent improvements each time they receive feedback.[2]

Secret #25: Supertherapists obtain regular, timely, and frequent feedback from their patients and do so systematically.[3]

Secret #26: Supertherapists rarely, if ever, attribute failure to external or uncontrollable factors.

Secret #27: Supertherapists spend more time thinking about strategies that may be more effective.

Secret #28: Supertherapists rarely attribute patients’ failure to engage to patient denial, resistance, or lack of motivation.

Secret #29: Supertherapists stay away from explanations that blame the patient and excuse the clinician.[4]

Secret #30: Supertherapists are always willing to engage in deliberate practice.

Secret #31: Supertherapists are self-motivated.

Secret #32: Supertherapists devote time, energy, and resources to achieve the highest possible outcomes for each of their patients.

Secret #33: Supertherapists engage in deliberate practice multiple times a day.

Secret #34: Supertherapists engage in continuing education that targets the development of skill sets specific to their individual needs based on the ongoing feedback they receive from their patients.[5]

Secret #35: Supertherapists pursue excellence in every one of their clinical encounters.

Secret #36: Supertherapists hold themselves accountable at all times.[6]

Secret #37: Supertherapists know that their patients are looking for value, that they deserve it, and they are working each day to provide their patients just that and nothing less.

Secret #38: Supertherapists know and understand that they are apprentices and that mastery is a moment-by-moment process and never a destination.[7]

Secret # 39: Supertherapists always keep each patient’s outcome in mind.

Secret # 40: Supertherapists go beyond just seeing their patients be “better off.”

Secret # 41: Supertherapists know and understand very well that success leaves clues, and they are willing to pay attention to these clues and act accordingly.

Secret # 42: Supertherapists know that the single most determinative factor in patient outcome is who delivers the treatment.

By now, you have been introduced to a total of 42 secrets of Supertherapists. There are more secrets to come, and we will soon be elaborating on each of them. We will also create a mechanism by which you will be able to embody these secrets in the most effortless way possible. It will all be part of a process. We will get there. For now:

1. What do you hear so far?
2. Which of these 42 secrets of Supertherapists speak to you the most?
3. Which ones catch your attention the most?
4. What would you like to do about that?
5. When would you like to do that?
6. What is the next step?

Stay tuned for the subsequent articles in this series to continue to learn about the characteristics of the Supertherapists, their secrets, and how to implement them in your own practice. Meanwhile, here’s what you can do:

1. Be one of the first 100 clinicians to send your thoughts on the above inquiries, and you may earn a free 6-month one-on-one coaching session with SWEET. Email us at contact@sweetinstitute.com, Subject Line: 6 Month One-one-One Coaching
2. Click here to register for one or both of our upcoming Certificate Courses
3. Loneliness Certificate Course: Click to join us

[1] Stein, David M., and Michael J. Lambert. “On the relationship between therapist experience and psychotherapy outcome.” Clinical Psychology Review 4.2 (1984): 127-142.

[2] Okiishi, John C., et al. “An analysis of therapist treatment effects: Toward providing feedback to individual therapists on their clients’ psychotherapy outcome.” Journal of clinical psychology 62.9 (2006): 1157-1172.

[3] Lambert, Michael J. “Emerging methods for providing clinicians with timely feedback on treatment effectiveness: An introduction.” Journal of Clinical Psychology 61.2 (2005): 141-144.

[4] Waller, Glenn, and Hannah Turner. “Therapist drift redux: Why well-meaning clinicians fail to deliver evidence-based therapy, and how to get back on track.” Behaviour research and therapy 77 (2016): 129-137.

[5] Jameson, Penny, Michael Stadter, and James Poulton. “Sustained and sustaining continuing education for therapists.” Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training 44.1 (2007): 110.

[6] Sparks, Jacqueline A., et al. “Teaching accountability: Using client feedback to train effective family therapists.” Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 37.4 (2011): 452-467.

[7] Jennings, Len, and Thomas M. Skovholt. “The cognitive, emotional, and relational characteristics of master therapists.” Journal of counseling psychology 46.1 (1999): 3.