Routine Outcome Monitoring in Couple and Family Therapy

This research-to-practice manual introduces Routine Outcome Monitoring (ROM), a feedback-based approach to preventing impasses and relapses in couple and family therapy as well as within other psychotherapy approaches. This book discusses how ROM has been developed and experienced within the Norwegian couples and family therapy community in line with international trends of bridging the gap between clinical practice and research. Locating the method in evidence-based systemic practice, contributors describe the core techniques, tools, and process of ROM, including examples of effective uses of feedback over different stages of therapy, with individuals in family context, and implemented in different countries. Giving clients this level of control in treatment reinforces the concept of therapy as a collaborative process, fostering client engagement and involvement, commitment to treatment, and post-treatment progress. ROM is applicable across clinical settings and clinician orientations for maximum utility in work with clients, and in building therapeutic self-awareness.

Features of the book:
•Theoretical and empirical context for using ROM with families and couples.
•Tools and procedures, including the Systemic Therapy Inventory of Change.
•Guidelines for treatment planning, implementation, and evaluation.
•Common challenges in using ROM with couples and families.
•Supervisory, training, and ethical issues.
•Examples and vignettes showing ROM in action.

With its deep potential for promoting client progress as well as therapist development, Routine Outcome Monitoring in Couple and Family Therapy: The Empirically Informed Therapist will attract practitioners and research professionals particularly interested in clinical practice, client-directed methods, and couple or family therapy.



Terje Tilden is the associate research director at Modum Bad, a leading research institute in Norway, where he also serves as an individual, group, and family therapist. He has presented a broad variety of research in cognitive therapy, both internationally and within Norway. In addition, he has published numerous articles in journals such as Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, Journal of Family Therapy, and Contemporary Family Therapy.

Bruce E. Wampold, who was trained in mathematics (University of Washington) before earning his doctorate in Counseling Psychology (University of California, Santa Barbara), is the Patricia L. Wolleat Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as well as Director, Research Institute at Modum Bad Psychiatric Center in Vikersund, Norway. Currently his work involves understanding psychotherapy from empirical, historical, and anthropological perspectives, which has led to the development of a contextual model of psychotherapy. His work is summarized in the forthcoming volume Great Psychotherapy Debate (with Z. Imel, 2nd ed., Routledge). He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, a Diplomate in Counseling Psychology of the American Board of Professional Psychology, the recipient of the 2007 Distinguished Professional Contributions to Applied Research Award from the American Psychological Association, and an Honorary Doctor in the Social Sciences, Stockholm University.