Treatment Feasibility and Social Validity

This is the sixth chapter in the section on client variables, values, and preferences. Evidence-based practitioners recognize that a treatment may be supported by many well-controlled studies and all parties may agree it is the ideal treatment, but a treatment cannot be considered appropriate for implementation if there are obstacles to accurate implementation that cannot be overcome. Treatment feasibility may be problematic due to resource constraint and environmental supports, such as lack of training, impact on other family members, barriers to sustainability, etc. Evidence-based practitioners may address problems with feasibility in numerous ways. Brainstorming sessions can resolve obstacles to feasibility. In addition a dual treatment selection process may emerge. Specifically a feasible short-term treatment is immediately implemented while a long-term plan to build systematic capacity for a preferable treatment is developed and activated.