Literature reviews dealing with psychotherapy and counseling too often conclude that no conclusions can be drawn. However, a critique of the literature on covert sensitization (CS) may offer clarifications of these apparently contradictory remarks. Research studies (N=84) were categorized by problem types, method used in the investigation, method of participant recruitment, and treatment efficacy. Results revealed that different methods were used to investigate the effects of CS on different problem behaviors. In general, studies which focused on the individual found CS to be an effective technique. Studies which tested average change between groups found mixed or negative evidence. The findings suggest that a conscious systematic program of research is needed to account for interactions of these variables. (JAC)