Compared Black and White patients who were seen in individual psychotherapy. Obtained assessments of treatment outcomes from therapists. White therapists generally rated their clients, especially Black clients, as psychologically more impaired than did Black therapists. Contrary to expectation, there were no differences in psychotherapy outcome as…

The effects of therapist sex, client sex, and client pathology on treatment goals formulated by practicing psychotherapists were investigated. Practicing male and female psychotherapists recommended treatment goals for either two male or two female pseudoclients who differed in their presenting pathology, which was severe and clearly defined.…

This discussion of family therapy of sexual abuse survivors addresses the role of therapist countertransference in the treatment process. It is contended that attitudes toward family members and political, moral, and institutional beliefs undergird therapists' countertransference reactions, and consequently underlie interventions. (Author/DB)

Several specific research approaches are compared with regard to cost-effectiveness, types of disorders to which they best respond, general strategies, and therapist personality. Replicated findings include: (1) support for both the functional reversal and semantic reversal of the "A-B Scale;" (2) characterization of therapists who are effective…

This article is primarily written for beginning therapists, paraprofessionals, and interested students. The following questions are discussed: (1) Who are therapists?; (2) What do therapists do?; (3) Why do people become therapists?; and (4) What are the characteristics of "good" therapists? The continuum of therapists is examined, ranging from…

Observed Shostrom's (1966) psychotherapy demonstration films, rating the interpersonal behavior of Gloria or the therapist on a checklist inventory measure. Found significant differences in the interpersonal behaviors of the three therapists with Gloria, and of Gloria with them. Analyses of transactional patterns showed departures of Gloria's…

College students rated an academic advisor, a vocational counselor, or a psychotherapist on 10 characteristics and subsequently rated each of the three types of counseling situations on how "personal" they perceived each to be. Subjects viewed psychotherapy as a more personal situation than academic advising or vocational counseling. (Author/RD)

Studied the effects of sex, experience, and professional affiliation on status of cotherapists leading psychotherapy groups. Results showed gender was the dominant status-conferring characteristic. The relative influence of experience and professional affiliation depended on the interactional component under investigation. (JAC)

Reviews studies of counseling relationship, using Gelso and Carter's multidimensional model to summarize empirical support for "real,""unreal," and "working alliance" elements of relationship. Discussion of implications of potential model shift in thinking of counseling relationship outlines how adoption of social…

Responds to earlier article by Sexton and Whiston (1994) on counseling relationship. Points out problems with the social constructivist position discussed by Sexton and Whiston, and advocates for generic model of psychotherapy which posits multidimensional conceptualization of counseling relationship that encompasses both "real"…

Responds to earlier article by Sexton and Whiston (1994) on counseling relationship. Contends that Sexton and Whiston defined counseling relationship too broadly. Disagrees with Sexton and Whiston's inclusion of interpersonal interaction into domain of counseling relationship and with their characterization of real relationship as being composed…

Responds to earlier article by Sexton and Whiston (1994) on counseling relationship. Commends Sexton and Whiston's decision to use Gelso and Carter's multidimensional model to guide research review. Asserts, however, that weaknesses exist in operations used to define real, unreal, and working alliance components. Questions both definitions of…

A review of the literature provides support for values as an important factor which impacts clients' psychotherapy outcome in several ways. Perceived initial values similarity between client and therapist was found to be significantly related to more favorable evaluations of the therapist and of therapy. Initial similarity on broader philosophical…

Reviews the available research on the effects of counselor sex on the effectiveness of therapy for female clients. It concludes that the research findings are not clear cut and that much remains to be done on the extent and effects of sex stereotyping in the therapeutic relationship. (NG)