Perceptions of the psychotherapy relationship in long- versus short-term therapy.

Examined participant perceptions of therapy by comparing long- with short-term therapy dyads. 30 therapy dyads from 3 large midwestern community mental health centers were included. Therapists and clients (20–49 yrs old) completed the Therapy Session Report 4 times and the Survey of Interpersonal Values twice immediately following scheduled therapy sessions. Results indicate that therapists and clients in long-term therapy dyads were more phenomenologically congruent in their feelings toward psychotherapy and each other and in their perceptions of therapeutic goals and processes than were therapists and clients in short-term therapy dyads. Often these perceptions were shared at the very outset of therapy. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)