Using the Written Contract for Evaluating and Enhancing Practice Effectiveness

This paper proposes a new method for integrating clinical practice and evaluation-The Contract Evaluation Procedure (CEP). This innovation involves using the treatment contract as an evaluation tool whereby the client's presenting problem and goal are placed on a continuum. This procedure should not place any additional demands on most clinicians. Use of the CEP facilitates increased evaluation of practice as well as the effectiveness of practice itself. Issues of practice evaluation and contracting in general are discussed followed by an explication of the CEP. A case example using the CEP is provided and a discussion of how the CEP compares with other similar procedures follows.