Читать книгу Introduction to Abnormal Child and Adolescent Psychology - Robert Weis - Страница 12

My third goal is to provide you with an understanding of evidence-based treatments and evidence-based practice. Evidence-based treatments include psychosocial therapies, medications, and prevention strategies that have been shown to be effective in the scientific research literature. To the extent possible, I provide a detailed description of each form of therapy so that you can appreciate both the theory behind the intervention and how the treatment plays out in clinics, hospitals, and schools. Then, I briefly review the efficacy and effectiveness of each treatment.

Evidence-based practice involves adapting high-quality treatments to meet the needs, preferences, and social–cultural contexts of children and families. Skillful therapy begins with a thorough knowledge of the research literature. However, it also depends on the ability to implement this knowledge in a way that addresses families’ immediate concerns, capitalizes on their strengths, and respects their values and traditions.

My goal is not to teach you how to conduct therapy. Instead, I hope that you will be able to make connections between the causes of each disorder and the ways clinicians might treat it. I also hope that my emphasis on evidence-based therapies will help you become better consumers of psychological services. Unfortunately, there are too many interventions available to children and families that lack empirical support and too few evidence-based treatments accessible to families most in need. Perhaps this book will help you to discriminate between therapies grounded in science versus well-intentioned treatments that are ineffective or harmful.

Equally as important is the provision of psychological services to families in an ethically mindful manner. Parents and caregivers entrust their children to professionals, hoping that the treatment that they receive will be helpful. Therapists must rely on evidence-based interventions to maximize the likelihood that treatment will be successful and minimize the risk of harm. At the same time, therapists must respect the rights and inherent dignity of families, remain honest and faithful in their professional interactions with others, and promote justice and fairness in their practice and their communities.