Psychologists' use of homework assignments in clinical practice.

Does the average professional psychologist use homework in clinical practice? If so, how frequently and how systematic is he or she in recommending homework? Ninety-eight percent of the 221 New Zealand practicing psychologists surveyed reported using homework assignments. Although practitioners reported using homework in an average of 57% of sessions, a higher rate (66% of sessions) was reported among those using cognitive and behavioral approaches to therapy. Despite this fact, only 25% of all psychologists reported using systematic procedures for recommending homework. The use of homework in clinical practice may need modification to ensure that clients receive maximum benefit from homework assignments. Despite the emphasis of homework assignments in theoretical formulations of therapy, very little is known about practitioners' use of homework assignments in clinical practice. There are no previous published reports on the extent to which the general psychologist population utilizes homework in clinical practice, or what procedures are used in the administration of homework, or what types of homework assignments are most frequently recommended. The administration of homework may be different for certain clients, or may be limited to the treatment of certain client problems. Moreover, it is possible that the use of homework (or its procedures) may vary as a function of the practitioner's therapeutic orientation. The present study was designed to provide specific data on these aspects of the use of homework in clinical practice, so that practitioners may be provided with further rationale for the use homework, and so that specific recommendations may be offered for how best to ensure homework's effectiveness.