Helsinki Psychotherapy Study student thesis wins two international awards

The American Psychological Association (APA) and the Society for Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration (SEPI) have awarded Erkki Heinonen, from the Helsinki Psychotherapy Study at the National Institute for Health and Welfare, two prizes for his ongoing doctoral work. Heinonen's dissertation investigates the individual characteristics of therapists as predictors of working alliance and outcome in psychotherapy.

APA is the largest scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the United States; it is also the world's largest association of psychologists. APA's Division 29 of psychotherapy awards the Jeffrey E. Barnett Psychotherapy Research Paper Award annually for the best study addressing psychotherapist factors that may impact therapy effectiveness. The prize was won by a paper from the Helsinki Psychotherapy Study, "Therapists' professional and personal characteristics as predictors of outcome in short- and long-term psychotherapy" (Heinonen, Lindfors, Laaksonen, & Knekt, J Aff Dis 2012; 138: 301-12). Studies were judged based on their coherence, ideas, style, and overall execution.

Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration is an interdisciplinary, international organization of researchers, theorists, and clinicians interested in the integration of psychotherapy. Its aim is to promote, examine, and integrate diverse approaches to bringing together the strengths of various therapy orientations. The research committee of SEPI awards its annual dissertation prize for an ongoing doctoral work based on the  applicant's research plan and curriculum vitae. The committee acknowledged the project to be impressive both in its methodological rigor and its clear significance for the field of psychotherapy integration.

Both awards are given to one researcher annually. Besides the National Institute for Health and Welfare, Heinonen has also conducted a part of his doctoral work at the University of Chicago.

The dissertation is supervised by Professor Paul Knekt.

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