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Both clients and clinicians overestimate the effect of therapy. Explain the possible reasons for this. Also consider how the placebo effect and regression toward the mean influence therapy.

User Izzie
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Often people will begin get better through time, regardless of therapy (this is regression toward the mean influence) but will still attribute this to the therapy because that is what they expected to happen. Even if the therapy isn’t anything special, just the thought of it helping them may cause improvement in the client’s life (the placebo effect). Other reasons behind the overestimation could include the ability to measure the effects in a controlled environment, and receiving biased information (such as the clients who stay the longest are often the one’s who will be monitored and show improvement). TV and movie stereotypes may also play a role into how we, as a society, see therapy.
User Gyss
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