Podcast episode 8: Measurement, or, if everyone is “excellent,” no one is

Psychotherapy Notes podcastMeasuring client outcomes is fast, easy, and essential. Current measurement tools are up to the task, and if more therapists used them, we could get better at our work.

In this episode, we talk about measurement and its role in modern psychotherapy. Knowing in an objective way whether we’re helping clients — and how much, and how quickly — helps us avoid the trap of thinking we’re above average without any evidence. Turns out, every therapist believes they’re above average. But of course, only half of them can be right.


In our next episode, we talk with Casey Meinster from Hathaway-Sycamores about outcome measurement in therapy clinics and organizations. That episode is our last of the season. We hope you’ve enjoyed them!

You can download our entire first season now on iTunes and Stitcher, and read about (and listen to) previous episodes here:

Episode 1: How licensing exams are like the TSA
Episode 2: Licensing exams with Kim Madsen, California BBS
Episode 3: Student debt
Episode 4: Student debt: Two stories
Episode 5: Public Service Loan Forgiveness: Not dead yet
Episode 6: Psychotherapy’s gender gap
Episode 7: Men in therapy, with Angela Caldwell, LMFT