Mechanisms of Change and their Relevance to Unification in Psychotherapy - UTOK Conference 2026

A deep understanding of mechanisms of change—the precise how and why (the causal sequence inside a patient) of what therapists do that actually leads to constructive change—is a crucial component of unifying the field of psychotherapy. In this presentation, we will distinguish between mechanisms of change and principles of change, as well as mediating and moderating variables. Concrete clinical examples of Memory Reconsolidation and Deep Structure Psychotherapy will be provided as exemplars of mechanisms of change, and how they fit within a framework that includes the relational healing context, therapeutic principles of change, and processes of change.