Evidence-based treatment (EBT) has a somewhat tumultuous history within psychotherapy for two reasons. First, it has been criticized for reducing clients to their diagnoses and therapists to their treatment technologies. This doesn’t make much sense given that the client, the therapist, and their relationship account for far more of how change happens than model and technique. Second, no one approach as ever demonstrated reliable superiority over any other. This is of course the famous “Dodo Bird Verdict.” This doesn’t mean that EBTs are not worthwhile to consider.
Thankfully, the American Psychological Association Task Force on evidence-based practice ushered in a consideration of context: “Evidence-based practice is the integration of the best available research with clinical expertise in the context of patient (sic) characteristics, culture, and preferences.” Perhaps most importantly, the Task Force said, “The application of research evidence to a given patient (sic) always involves probabilistic inferences. Therefore, ongoing monitoring of patient progress and adjustment of treatment as needed are essential.”
In addition to being evidence based by virtue of its seven randomized clinical trials and SAMHSA designation, the Partners for Change Outcome Management System (PCOMS) is congruent with the Task Force definition and recommendation. PCOMS enables the identification of clients who are not benefiting from any given treatment so that clinicians may collaboratively design different interventions. The Task Force definition and PCOMS call for a more sophisticated clinician who chooses from a variety of methods to best fit client preferences and cultural values, with client measurable response to therapy guiding the way to positive outcomes.
The evolution and use of technology in counseling has taken PCOMS to new levels of application and benefit. The web application of PCOMS, Better Outcomes Now (BON), provides not only convenience but also critical information at your fingertips to ensure quality improvement as well as unlimited data analyses and reporting possibilities.
When introducing PCOMS and BON technology in therapeutic services, keep these tips in mind:
Remember that being afraid is not an uncommon reaction to change. Therefore, it’s important to openly address any concerns your staff may have from the get-go. Being transparent can help build trust and alleviate fear when implementing any new system. Be sure to communicate that PCOMS and BON will never be used in any punitive way whatsoever. There is only one purpose: to improve the quality of care provided to clients.
For additional advice on how to get ready for PCOMS implementation, please see our PCOMS Implementation Readiness Checklist. Read more about the four secrets of implementation in the PCOMS manual, your step-by-step guide to everything PCOMS. And, to explore the use of technology in counseling firsthand, request a free trial of BON today.