This observational study investigates the outcomes of Strategic Psychotherapy, a form of brief psychological treatment focused on specific goals for change, co-constructed with patients. The aim is to evaluate whether patients who receive this therapy in private practice settings experience improvements in their psychological well-being, symptoms, and daily functioning.

The study population includes all adult patients (≥18 years) who spontaneously seek treatment from two strategic therapists between January 2021 and December 2025. Eligible participants must present with psychological problems that meet the criteria for a clinical diagnosis.

Participants will complete two psychological questionnaires (SCL-90R and CORE-OM) before starting therapy and again at the end of their treatment.

Additional information will be collected, such as use of medication, the patient's own evaluation of the therapy, number of sessions attended, initial diagnosis, involvement of family members, and types of prescriptions used.

All data will be treated confidentially and used solely for research purposes.

Strategic Psychotherapy is a form of brief, goal-oriented psychological treatment that emphasizes the collaborative construction of specific therapeutic goals and the implementation of targeted interventions to promote change. Despite its widespread clinical application, there is limited systematic evidence on patient outcomes in naturalistic private practice settings.

This observational study aims to contribute to the evidence base by examining the effectiveness of Strategic Psychotherapy in improving psychological well-being, reducing symptom distress, and enhancing everyday functioning. The study includes all adult patients (≥18 years) who independently seek treatment from two certified strategic therapists between January 2021 and December 2025. Inclusion is based on the presence of clinically relevant psychological problems consistent with a formal diagnosis.

Participants will be assessed at baseline and post-treatment using two standardized and validated outcome measures: the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90R) and the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation - Outcome Measure (CORE-OM). Additional clinical and process variables will be recorded, including initial diagnosis, medication use, number of sessions attended, involvement of family members, type of prescriptions, and patient's subjective evaluation of therapy.

Therapists will not manipulate or control the number of sessions or content of therapy beyond their usual clinical practice, thereby preserving the ecological validity of the study. The design is naturalistic and observational, without randomization or control groups. All data will be anonymized and handled in accordance with confidentiality and data protection standards. Findings are expected to provide insight into the real-world outcomes of Strategic Psychotherapy and contribute to the development of evidence-based practice guidelines.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults aged 18 years or older.
• Individuals voluntarily seeking psychological treatment in private practice with one of the participating strategic therapists.
• Presence of clinically relevant psychological problems consistent with a formal diagnosis (e.g., anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, stress-related conditions, relational difficulties).
• Ability to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals younger than 18 years.
• Patients with severe psychiatric conditions requiring immediate specialized care (e.g., acute psychosis, severe suicidal risk, substance dependence requiring detoxification).
• Patients currently enrolled in another clinical trial.
• Inability or unwillingness to complete the required questionnaires (SCL-90-R and CORE-OM).

The study population will consist of adult patients (≥18 years) who voluntarily seek psychological treatment in private practice with two licensed strategic therapists in Livorno and Empoli, Italy. Participants are individuals presenting with clinically relevant psychological problems consistent with a formal diagnosis (e.g., anxiety, depression, stress-related or relational difficulties). Patients are not recruited through advertising or referral; they are self-referred clients seeking therapy during the period January 2021 to December 2025.

all IPD that underlie results in a publication

Data will be available for five years from the date of the first publication.

Any researcher can access the data by sending an email to the study coordinator at dott.leonardifabio@gmail.com.