Session Quality in Psychotherapy and Counseling: A Narrative Review of Assessment Methods and Main Characteristics

Abstract

Defining a high-quality psychotherapy or counseling session is important but challenging due to the lack of consensus in the scientific community. Presently, there is no clear definition or universally accepted criteria for determining session quality. This article presents a narrative review of contemporary literature on universal methods for evaluating the quality of individual psychotherapy and psychological counseling sessions. This review aims to identify prevalent and valid instruments for assessing session quality and to define the main characteristics of a high-quality session. The Session Evaluation Questionnaire, Session Evaluation Scale, Session Impacts Scale, and Individual Therapy Process Questionnaire encompass the predominant methods found. This study explores the structure, applications, psychometric properties, strengths, and weaknesses of each tool and provides recommendations for their utilization in examining session quality. The article also comprehensively examines the characteristics of high-quality sessions embedded within these methods. High-quality sessions are based on a trusting relationship in which the specialist respects the client's self-sufficiency and avoids imposing his/her beliefs or actions. To improve the quality of sessions, the therapist or counselor should emotionally support the client, encourage hope, actualize strengths, develop inner resources, help reframe and overcome difficulties, explore new perspectives and meanings, and increase overall awareness of motivations for behavior.