Inferences in therapy: Processes and hazards

Psychotherapists are constantly involved in the process of forming hypotheses about clients. These hypotheses are a combination of direct observation and inferred information. This study considered how 9 therapists made inferences during hypothesis formation. They made restructuring and supplemental inferences in about half of their comments about the client in an initial session. As was expected, they made inferences based on obviously missing information. This study also reveals that therapists make inferences based on other inferences that over time were remembered and used as direct observations. Precautions are offered for clinicians and therapist-educators in working with inferential information.