Biased reporting of therapist–patient sexual intimacy.

To investigate bias in reports of therapist–patient sexual intimacy, information about 559 patients who were sexually intimate with their previous therapists was collected via questionnaire from 318 psychologists who subsequently saw these patients in therapy. Psychologists, the experimental Ss in the present study, were predominantly aged 40–49 yrs, and 64% were male. It was found that Ss who reported that no harm occurred to patients as a result of therapist–patient sexual intimacy (SI) admitted twice the prevalence of SI between patients and themselves than did Ss in general. Those Ss who had experienced SI with patients were less likely to report adverse effects of SI either for patients or for therapy. Fewer Ss with a history of SI than those without reported anger toward offending therapists, and fewer recommended punishment. A higher percentage of female than male Ss reported anger toward offenders and recommended punishment, yet women did not rate the effects of SI as more harmful than did men. In general, anger toward offending therapists and recommendations for punishment were associated with the degree to which patients were thought to have been harmed. Ss who had been consultants to a greater number of other therapists about sexual contact with patients reported relatively more cases in which therapy ended soon after SI began than did Ss who were consulted by fewer therapists. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapist and client: Two views of the process and outcome of psychotherapy.

At termination of their therapeutic relationships, 8 male and 7 female therapists (aged 26–59 yrs) along with their 38 male and 37 female clients (aged 19–40 yrs) each independently and anonymously completed a questionnaire concerning the process and efficacy of therapy. Unlike previous findings, the clients rated therapeutic outcome more favorably than did their therapists. In addition, each group attributed the change to different aspects of the therapeutic relationship. Both the aspects cited and the ratings differed as a function of the sex of both therapist and client. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychotherapists' perspectives on treating themselves and their clients for psychic distress.

Investigated the processes of change that psychotherapists report using to help clients overcome psychic distress and the processes therapists report using to overcome their own distress. 299 psychotherapists (mean age 45.4 yrs) responded to either the therapist-treat-client or therapist-treat-self form of the Processes of Change Questionnaire. Results indicate that change processes used for treating clients varied in frequency as a function of the S's orientation. In contrast, there were no discernable differences on any of the change processes for self-change among Ss of diverse persuasions. Findings suggest that psychotherapists recommend medication and facilitative relationships more frequently for clients than for themselves, but they favor counterconditioning, self-liberation, and stimulus control more for themselves than for their clients. It is suggested that (a) therapists may assume that they are healthier than their clients, (b) therapists may believe change processes good for the patient are not necessarily good for the practitioner, and/or (c) salient differences exist between change processes under therapist control and those under self-control. (43 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapist-patient sexual intimacy involving children and adolescents.

A survey of 90 psychologists showed that 22 reported instances of sexual intimacy between therapists and minor patients. A total of 81 instances were reported, with 56% involving female patients (aged 3–27 yrs) and 44% involving male patients (aged 7–26 yrs). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapist self-disclosure.

Studied therapist self-disclosure in 8 cases of brief psychotherapy with anxious/depressed female clients (aged 32–60 yrs) and experienced therapists (aged 34–78 yrs). As predicted, reassuring disclosures were rated as more helpful by clients and therapists and led to higher levels of client experiencing than did challenging disclosures. However, no support was found for the hypothesis that self-involving (present tense) disclosures would be more helpful than self-disclosing (past tense) disclosures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sexual and business relationships between therapists and former clients.

Examined the incidence of post-termination sexual (PTSRs) and business relationships (PTBRs) between therapists and former clients, as well as the legal, clinical, demographic, and professional judgment considerations related to both PTSRs and PTBRs. Among a sample of 348 therapists (aged 29–81 yrs; 52% male) who had been delivering psychotherapy services for an average of 14 yrs, it was found that 6.5% engaged in PTSRs and 29% engaged in PTBRs. Demographic comparisons showed that males were significantly more likely to engage in both PTSRs and PTBRs. PTSRs were always viewed as more inappropriate than PTBRs. Results provide considerable support for the inclusion of prohibitions against sexual intimacies with former clients as part of the Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct (American Psychological Association; see record 1993-19413-001). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effect of androgyny on the quality of psychotherapeutic relationships.

Tested the hypothesis that androgynous therapists would form more favorable psychotherapy relationships with their clients than masculine or feminine therapists. 52 psychology practicum dyads (therapists aged 26–40 yrs, clients aged 18–30 yrs) were examined in the context of in vivo psychotherapy sessions. The therapists and clients each completed the Bem Sex-Role Inventory—Revised, and clients also completed the Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory. Results indicate that androgynous therapists were judged to produce more favorable relationships, regardless of gender. It is suggested that this superior relationship with androgynous therapists may be attributed to their uniqueness in dealing with problem-solving and interpersonal situations and their ability to blend masculine and feminine orientations. They can be assertive, yet supportive; engage in activities both traditionally gender appropriate and non-sex-typed; demonstrate a greater array of personal behavior and emotionality; organize cognitive data in non-gender-related ways; and combine an open, naturalistic interviewing style with directiveness. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Experienced psychoanalytically oriented therapists' narrative acounts of their personal therapy: Impacts on professional and personal development.

Examined the impact of personal therapy on the professional and personal development of psychotherapists through in-depth interviews with 5 psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapists (aged 40–50 yrs). An adaptation of the method of consensual qualitative coding was used to study the narrative accounts of therapy experiences leading to the identification 6 domains: (1) importance of personal therapy for therapists; (2) impacts on the professional self: identity; (3) impacts or one's being in the session: process; (4) experiences in previous and current therapy; (5) self in relation to the personal therapists; and (6) mutual and unique influences of didactic learning, supervision, and personal therapy. The authors found that personal therapy is perceived not only as an essential part of the training phase, but as playing an important role in the therapist's ongoing process of individuation and in the development of the ability to use the self, to achieve moment-to-moment authentic relatedness with one's clients. The domains and categories are appended. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Change and consistency in social participation during early adulthood.

Reports a longitudinal study of the social interaction patterns of college students and adults. 113 adults (aged 26–31 yrs old) who had participated in similar studies in college kept detailed records of social activity for 2 wks. Three hypotheses were supported. First, from college to adulthood, opposite-sex socializing grew, whereas same-sex, mixed-sex, and group interactions decreased. Second, intimacy increased in adulthood, whereas satisfaction did not. Contrary to theories that focus on the formation of primary intimate relationships in early adulthood, intimacy increased in all interaction categories. Sex differences in the development of intimacy were also noted. Third, correlations revealed marked consistency over time in several variables. Implications of these findings for social development during early adulthood were examined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Implementing a time-limited therapy program: Differential effects of training and experience.

Assessed the relationship between level of clinical experience, training format (no training, self-instructional, or intensive training), and therapeutic outcome in time-limited therapy (TLT). Six experienced therapists (aged 40–55 yrs) and 6 therapists-in-training (aged 25–31 yrs) underwent 1 of the 3 training formats prior to conducting 8 TLT sessions with a prescreened homogeneous group of 57 clients at a university counseling center. Clients of experienced therapists had consistently superior outcomes when compared with clients of their less experienced counterparts, with the exception of intake officers' outcome ratings. The more intensely trained therapists realized better outcomes, irrespective of therapist experience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sexual attraction to clients: The human therapist and the (sometimes) inhuman training system.

585 Division 42 (Psychologists in Private Practice) members responded to a 17-item questionnaire designed to gather initial information about the attraction therapists feel for their clients. 286 Ss were aged 45 yrs and under, while 299 Ss were aged 46 yrs and over. Results show that 508 Ss were attracted to clients; significantly more males than females reported such an attraction. Younger Ss were significantly more attracted to clients than were the older Ss. 104 Ss (primarily male) had considered sexual involvement, 91 more than once. Approximately 37 Ss had acted out sexually with clients. 488 Ss indicated feeling uncomfortable, guilty, or anxious about their attraction to clients. 55% of Ss indicated that they had received no education or training about sexual attraction to clients. (65 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Female counselor–client dyads: Effects of counselor age, client marital status, and intimacy level of presenting problem on perceptions of counselors.

Explored the impact of counselor age, level of intimacy of clients' presenting problems, and client marital status on perception of counselors and the counseling relationship with 48 married females (mean age 21.9 yrs) and 48 unmarried females (mean age 26.3 yrs). Ss viewed a series of 3 videotapes, which were counterbalanced for level of intimacy of client's presenting problems and depicted initial interviews between young female clients and either younger or older female counselors. After viewing each individual vignette, Ss completed a counselor rating form, a client satisfaction form, and manipulation checks for presenting problem intimacy and counselor age. Overall, differences in presenting problems and counselor age were perceived as intended. Ss' marital status was unrelated to any measures. Counselors were judged as most expert, attractive, and trustworthy when dealing with presenting problems that were least intimate. Ss anticipated greater satisfaction with younger rather than older counselors only for the least intimate presenting problem. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A comparison of identity and intimacy statuses in college students and alumni.

Previous research has shown that empirical tests of E. H. Erikson's (1963) psychosocial theory have yielded limited information on development after the college years. In the present study, the effect of college graduation on the identity and intimacy crises of 93 college seniors and 66 24–27 yr old alumni from the same university was studied. College graduation was regarded as a life transition that would stimulate growth in the areas of identity and intimacy. It was hypothesized that more alumni than students would be located in the more mature statuses. Ss were given measures of identity status and intimacy status. Four areas of identity were rated: achievement, moratorium, foreclosed, and diffuse. Intimacy status was rated in terms of the categories of intimate, merger, pre-intimate, pseudo-intimate, and stereotyped and isolated. Findings show that in all areas, alumni were in the identity achievement status more frequently than were college students, who, in turn, were more frequently foreclosed. Differences in the other 2 identity statuses varied by identity area. Alumni were more frequently in the intimacy statuses of intimate and merger, whereas more students were rated as preintimate or low in intimacy. Intimacy was related to identity status only for alumni. Results support the hypothesis and suggest greater commitment on identity than intimacy for students. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Whither the bias: The female client's "edge" in psychotherapy?

Tested the hypothesis that, along several dimensions, women may be favored as psychotherapy clients by examining ratings of the process-relevant interpersonal characteristics and gross outcome expectancies for 72 new male and 92 new female clients (mean age 41 yrs). Eight male and 8 female therapists (mean age 36 yrs) completed a questionnaire that assessed clients on interpersonal evaluation and interpersonal control dimensions and included ratings of client's social skills, expected treatment success, expected termination conditions, and expected duration of treatment. Results show that, as hypothesized, males were ascribed more negative interpersonal characteristics and poorer social skills than females. Males were also rated higher on a composite "controllingness" variable. There was a significant client sex difference in expected duration of treatment (with females expected to stay longer), but no differences were found in expectancies regarding premature termination or treatment success. (24 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

L'effet du niveau d'experiencing du client et de l'aidant sur l'abandon d'un processus thérapeutique.

Studied the effect of client and therapist level of experiencing, beginning with the initial stage of psychological counseling, on early termination of therapy. Human subjects: 32 male and female Canadian adults (mean age 30–32 yrs) (personality disorders, neuroses, or interpersonal problems) (clients of therapists). 19 normal male and female Canadian adults (mean age 31 yrs) (graduate students) (therapists). Clients were subdivided into 2 groups: those who had terminated therapy (early or late), and those who had not terminated therapy. Ss were interviewed. Levels of experiencing were compared for the 2 groups of clients and for therapists who had counseled these clients. Tests used: The Global Assessment Scale, Psychiatric Symptom Index (F. Ilfeld, 1976), and Experiencing Scale (P. Mathieu-Coughlan and M. Klein, 1984). (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Narcissistic issues in therapists: Diagnostic and treatment considerations.

Examines narcissistic issues with which therapists are likely to struggle, including extreme audience sensitivity, pathological parentification, perfectionism, and impostor feelings. It is suggested that many therapists were, as children, raised by narcissistic parents, and these children learned to respond to parental needs at the expense of their own development. Unresolved narcissistic issues may contribute to therapist burnout as well as to a tendency to vicariously gratify needs through one's clients. An object relations approach to treatment emphasizes resolving dependency conflicts and developing more resilient self-esteem. Clients are provided insight through interpretations and a corrective interpersonal experience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Perception of normality in families: Four samples.

Explored the extent to which normative values on family assessment measures reflected perceptions of what constituted a "normal" family. Ss from 4 samples in the US and Canada were identified. 20 Canadian Ss, 65% of whom were female with a child 6 yrs and under; 172 undergraduates, approximately 60% of whom were female; 24 grandmothers (aged 51–79 yrs); and 21 therapists (aged 27–61 yrs). Ss completed the Family Environment Scale and 2 self-report measures based on family systems models. Results point out differences among Ss' ratings of normal families, perceptions of their own families, and instrument norms. Group differences highlighted the need to incorporate family developmental concerns in all family assessment, therapy, and research and raised questions about differences in perceptions between family members and therapists. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychotherapists' attitudes toward clients reporting mystical experiences.

Studied the proportion of therapy clients who report mystical experiences, the diagnostic attitudes of their therapists, and the influence of personal and professional factors on attitudes toward these clients by analyzing the survey responses of 285 32–82 yr old psychotherapists (primarily males). Of the 20,670 clients seen during a 12-mo period, 4.5% reported a mystical experience; 67% of Ss had seen at least one such client during that period. Psychodynamic and behavioral therapists attributed significantly more pathology to such clients than did humanistic/existential therapists. Responses suggested that some therapists were biased in their diagnostic attitudes toward clients reporting mystical experiences. 50% of Ss said they had personally had a mystical experience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Similarity between therapists' and clients' locus of control: Implications for therapeutic expectations and outcome.

Investigated the possible influence of locus of control (LOC) similarity between clients and therapists on therapeutic process and outcome with 21 practicing therapists (mean age 42 yrs) and 78 of their current clients (mean age 35 yrs). LOC was measured for both therapists and clients using Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale. Therapists self-administered questionnaires on their clinical expectations and therapy evaluations at the beginning and end of therapy, respectively. Questionnaires about the clients' characteristics and clinical expectations were administered at the initial stages of therapy, and questionnaires about the client's LOC and therapy evaluations were administered at the end of therapy. Results indicate that initial similarity in LOC between client and therapist significantly influenced clinical expectations, while the posttest similarity between client's and therapist's LOC significantly influenced evaluations of therapy outcome. Pretherapy matches on the LOC variable were insufficient to predict outcome; however, contemporaneous LOC scores appeared to have utility for client's and therapist's expectations and evaluations. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)