Practice-based evidence in clinical health psychology.

This article focuses on the use of sessional measures, specifically the Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) and Session Rating Scale (SRS), to meet the Health and Care Professions Council's (HCPC) 2023 proficiency standards requiring evidence-based practice and outcome evaluation in clinical health psychology within physical health settings. It discusses challenges in applying traditional evidence-based practice, such as limited relevant NICE guidance and the complexity of patients with multiple comorbidities, and proposes sessional measures as practical tools that incorporate patient feedback and therapeutic alliance into ongoing care. Data from a clinical health psychology department in West Yorkshire demonstrate significant improvements in patient wellbeing and therapeutic relationships across diverse chronic physical health conditions, with outcomes comparable to benchmark data despite socioeconomic and health complexities. The article highlights the collaborative nature of these measures, their adaptability across diagnoses and therapies, and their role in fulfilling new professional accountability standards while emphasizing the importance of patient-centered care.