Mark a. Hubble, Article Review Example

Hubble’s “The Heart & Soul of Change: What Works in Therapy” attempts to condense larger subjects in the field to that which can be utilized for the field of therapy, as well as other “helping” disciplines.  Focusing on the common factors identified in this work, it bodes well in this important area of therapy.  It succeeds in its mission to allow readers to identify with these factors that promote change in clients.  It does however have important drawbacks that readers need to be aware.

Advantages: Common Factors – Universal Value and Claims

The book is based around the idea of common factors in therapy.  Taking factors such as change, the relationship in therapy itself, expectancy, and technique, the work tackles these areas while providing empirical evidence for these.  Other applications and implications for these common factors are made.

In a sense, the book is clearly devoted to results in these common factors.  This is certainly not an academically-centered work on a myriad of studies and techniques in therapy, but that which finds the reach of patients, families, and others in addition to the therapist.  Its value can be recognized by anyone who can utilize these common factors to impact those around them.

The “Therapeutic Value”

The universal value of the work is found in the approach of its “therapeutic value.”  In short, it allows therapeutic factors to find roles and meaning in other areas and disciplines.  This perspective and the implications found in this value in the book place a high level of significance in the reach of the book.

The therapeutic value of the common factors the book speaks of is made clear empirically.  According to Hubble (1999, p 33), the improvement of clients without psychological intervention is clear.  In these related implications extended value is found.

It becomes clear that the value of the work extends beyond therapists, or even patients for that matter.  Hubble (1999), relative to the improvement of clients without intervention, believes that “a significant number of people are helped by friends, family, teachers, and clergy who use a variety of supportive and hope instilling techniques” (p. 33).  Thus we see a distinct value on the promoting of improvement in clients separate from the therapist.

Universal Value

Rooted in the empirical basis of the value of supportive individuals, this work is effective for those who wish to gain insight into improving others.  However, this does not restrict value in this work to those who may be found in the support system of an individual seeking improvement in some area.  Rather, those who wish to gain insight into promoting change, for personal reasons or those in which it may help professionally may do so.

Individuals can obtain great value in this work for personal reasons.  Those who are dealing with difficult issues can make use out of the many techniques and studies that provide insight into psychological conditions.  Of course, ultimately, those seeing a counselor can supplement their sessions with information provided; for instance, relying on those close to them, as Hubble had expressed as mentioned.  Not to mention there is great value in these concepts for the role of knowledge, which can come into use at many points within one’s life and experiences.

Professionals who are active in the lives of others can benefit from this work.  Supporting or helping others to change their behavior can happen in other professional relationships, such as social workers.  This makes a great case for the book’s reach extending into other professions.

Change Generated By Individuals in Counseling

The value of the work from Hubble brings another dimension to the one who is engaged in counseling.  Overcoming problems without counseling, or at least in accordance with counseling, is concentrated upon in Hubble’s work.  This important dimension brings the effectiveness of the scope and technique of this work to the primary individual in therapy, which is a case not normally seen in such a work in this area, whereby it encompasses the individual and others inside and outside of a current support system.

Truly the work from Hubble finds increased value by adding scope to the individual who is in need of behavioral change.  By adding this necessary component into the mix, Hubble’s work allows all current and potential party to make use of information and techniques provided for change.  It completes the “circle” so to speak of those who can utilize methods in their daily or professional lives, outside of the therapist.

Hubble (1999) documents this ability in the work.  He utilizes studies which demonstrate that all change is self-change, even (p. 99).  Continuing to argue on the drastic nature of self-generated change, Hubble paints a picture of encouragement for individuals in counseling.  Through statistical bases and further methods of coping and finding support, the work allows those who need help ways and examples in which to find success.

Disadvantages – Broad Scope and Commentary

Hubble’s work fails in two distinct areas, with particular regard to the structure and direction of the work.  While there are significant advantages in the scope of the work, it also finds limitations in its confusion to this regard.  Additionally, there are too many instances where there is little commentary amidst crowds of references, which limits readability and voice.

Scope – Lack of Direction

One distinct disadvantage is that the book fails to identify a target.  While an advantage is that this work is useful to patients, individuals inside and outside of support systems, and others who are not therapists, the shift in direction from these to therapists dictates the lack of direction this work faces.  This also causes problems for those within the profession.

Readers outside of therapy.

The work can be useful for those who are not therapists.  As this is clear, it is certainly not written as such.  This is found as case in point with regard to lack of structure and the nature of the writing that can be found in the book.

As a source that can allow laymen to gain insight from this work, it certainly does not make any attempt to do so in the structure of the book.  The chapters are ordered on a basis relative to the issues revolving around common factors in therapy.  Additionally, there are certainly no distinctions or ways in which an individual who is not in practice could pick up the work and put it to use.  A full reading would be required, which is unfortunate due to its ability to help those who are not involved in the profession.

Therapists.

The lack of direction hurts the usability of those who are therapists.  While the work covers many topics, it spreads too thin for this targeted audience.  Therapists are unlikely to find a level of analysis required by those who have been in this profession for years.

Maintaining readability for both therapists and non-therapists affects the former, as has been seen in the case of the latter.  For instance, Hubble (1999) begins a chapter founded in common factors, with statements declaring the usefulness of psychotherapy (p. 179).   In instances such as these, which utilize space to declare elementary notions that professionals are aware, a lack of scope certainly affects the readability for established professionals.

Voice

The book also reads outside of the usability of the reader who is not interested or engaged in research.  The basic readability is compromised in Hubble’s work, where in several chapters there is a horde of information given in respect to research.  Arising questions of direction, it is hard to tell whether this is supposed to be readable by those not in the field, yet it contains this sort of information.  The result is a structure where the average reader is on his or her own to find relevant information and commentary amongst research, which is all too much for the average reader interested in this topic.

Ultimately, the voice of the authors in this book is lost in places due to research.  Whereas it is in question whether this amount of research is suitable for those not in the field, it fails to give enough commentary in places.  In some hordes of references to research, the text gives a few sentences of commentary, which, at times, even then seems to only summarize the research.

In conclusion, Hubble’s work could succeed in its advantages more than it has.  By making it available to all yet technical enough for therapists, it finds value at all levels.  However, lacking analysis and direction at times, and mixing these two targets in the texts, it fails to give either primary group what they are looking for.  Ultimately it still retains value for those on both sides who are willing to accept its flaws for what value it contains.  It is a success in its ability to identify change on a basic level.

References

Hubble, M., Duncan, B., & Miller, S. (1999) The Heart & Soul of Change: What Works in Therapy. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.