Evidence-Based Practices and Single-Subject Research Designs in Counseling

It is widely recognized that evidence-based treatments need to be adopted by practicing counselors. The ACA Code of Ethics states that counselors will use empirically supported treatments, yet there is minimal evidence of this practice despite external pressures from health care providers and government agencies. The ACA Code of Ethics (Section C, Professional Responsibility) also states that “Counselors have a responsibility to the public to engage in counseling practices that are based on rigorous research methodologies.” This manuscript discusses the controversies around evidence-based treatments, effectiveness, and efficacy; presents a set of standards often used to identify evidence-based practices; cites three counseling approaches recognized as meeting this criteria; and recommends that future studies examining counseling effectiveness employ single-subject research designs.