Are Grittier Front-Line Therapists More Likely to Implement Evidence-Based Interventions?

Substance use disorder remains a pervasive problem in the U.S. and elsewhere. Recent scholarship has explored therapist characteristics and evidence based intervention implementation in an attempt to improve client outcomes. One such construct that has received considerable attention is grit. People with high levels of grit tend to remain determined despite setbacks. This study sought to elucidate the relationship of grit to therapeutic alliance and attitudes towards evidence-based interventions in a sample of front-line therapist (n = 240). Grit was found to be positively associated with therapeutic alliance and correlated with favorable attitudes towards using proven practice. Findings suggest that gritty therapists may sustain the use of evidence based interventions in their usual services and have better client outcomes.