Although research has shown that mental health professionals possess less than adequate knowledge of their legal and ethical responsibilities, client knowledge or attitudes regarding the ethical or legal considerations of confidentiality have not been assessed. To explore public impressions regarding confidentiality in psychotherapy, a…

The feelings of therapist and patient toward each other are important factors in the therapeutic relationship. This study investigated how beginning therapists perceive and are perceived by clients. After initial counseling sessions with college student clients (N=133), six psychotherapy practicum trainees at a university counseling center…

While some new journals for psychotherapists are beginning to address practical decisions important for attracting clients and succeeding in the business of psychotherapy, the literature which might provide empirical evidence upon which to base such decisions still lags. A study was undertaken to provide practitioners with further information and…

The utility of employing elevated scores on the Depression and Psychasthenia scales of the MMPI as an indicator of a genuine, enduring clinical problem was investigated for a male college student population. Pilot data suggest that MMPI scale scores decrease following psychotherapy but not with the passage of time alone. (Author)

Self-disclosure to a therapist was investigated with 120 female subjects who viewed a video-taped vignette of a simulated psychotherapy session. Therapist self-disclosure was manipulated so that subjects saw a therapist exhibiting no disclosure, interpersonal disclosure, or intrapersonal disclosure. Subjects rated these therapists on a variety of…

A review of 800 psychotherapy cases in the 1985-86 academic year at Northwestern University, Illinois, revealed 21 where Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was mentioned. Seven cases are summarized to illustrate the spectrum of AIDS concerns and therapist interventions. Issues faced by therapists are examined. (Author/MT)

Investigated stimulus context (therapy session versus therapy description) and stimulus medium (audiovisual versus written) in preferences for the behavioral and person-centered orientations. Behavioral orientation was preferred when both orientations were presented audiovisually as a therapy session. Conversely, the person-centered orientation…

A limited comparative study of undergraduate homosexual males and control males were compared on referral source, therapy referral, academic interest and achievement, ordinal position, perceived relationship with parents, and personality adjustment as measured by the MMPI. Several differences were found and implications for treatment were…

Examined the effect of high therapist disclosure on the willingness to disclose of high and low need for approval subjects (N=68), who listened to a recorded client-therapist interview. Results confirmed that subjects with a high need for approval expressed more willingness to disclose in the clear expectation condition. (Author/JAC)

The results of a short-term psychotherapy quality assessment study, conducted at a university mental health service, are described. The outcome indicates that high-quality brief psychotherapy can be provided by university counseling services. (JN)

Examined the relationship between clarity of imagery and depression reduction. Depressed college females (N=30) were assigned to no treatment, a positive imagery group, or a positive imagery group who elaborated on their daydreams. Analysis found no significant treatment effect, but vividness of imagery correlated significantly with depression…

The application of Gestalt dreamwork was explored with counselor education students and professors at two Taiwan universities. The literature indicates Asians are reluctant to disclose personal matters or to display emotions. Contrary to expectations, the Taiwanese participants readily enacted roles, were personally open, and expressed intense…

This study investigated the psychological correlates of treatment seeking for eating disorders in female college students. Results indicated that 56% of the 106 participants with eating-disorder symptomatology did not believe their behaviors warranted therapy. Women with eating-disorder symptoms who did not believe their behaviors warranted…

While the role of values in psychotherapy has received increasing attention, little attention has focused on value congruence between client and therapist. To examine the relationship of specific religious beliefs and values to psychotherapy and mental health, 100 orthodox Christian and 104 nonorthodox and non-Christian college students completed…