Evidence-based psychological interventions and the common factors approach: The beginnings of a rapprochement?

Laska, Gurman, and Wampold (2014, pp. 467-481) argue that common factors (CFs) have largely been ignored by clinical researchers developing research-based interventions but that CFs are primarily responsible for therapeutic change. On the contrary, many clinical researchers developing empirically supported treatments have been studying the contribution of these factors for decades. What has been demonstrated is that these factors are contributory, but are not sufficient to produce maximum effects and their impact differs greatly from disorder to disorder. But we also take note of a change of tone and perhaps substance from these authors on the contribution of CFs to evidence-based psychological interventions, and reflect on recent changes in our own views both of which may reduce differences in our respective positions.