The literature on social cognition and intergroup relations suggests that gender and age are social concepts which, because they are at the same level of abstraction, may produce interactive effects on person perception judgments. The purpose of this study was to explore gender stereotypes that therapists hold about people who differ in age;…

Examined influences on therapists' expectancies of four variables. Counselors at three training levels completed the Therapist Expectancy Inventory. Significant differences were found for therapist gender, professional affiliation, and level of training; client gender effect was not significant. Concluded therapists' judgments about clients are a…

Male and female interviewers who were introduced as expert or nonexpert met individually with undergraduates. Male experts were rated lower in social attractiveness; however, introductions did not affect either perceived expertness or trustworthiness. Reasonably competent therapist behavior may neutralize differential expertness; expertness may…

There is a growing trend for some counselors to adopt and advertise specific value positions and counseling orientations. To explore potential clients' perceptions of information contained in "traditional" and "feminist" therapists' announcements of services, 52 males and 52 females received one of four announcements…

Investigated impact of client and therapist gender on psychotherapy process and outcome. Clients, regardless of gender, agreed that women therapists formed more effective therapeutic alliances but both male and female clients of male therapists reported significant improvement as a result of therapy. (Author)

Explored the relationship between therapist-client compatibility, sex of therapist, and psychotherapeutic outcome. Results suggested the sex of therapist did not have a significant differential effect. There was no consistent effect between dyadic compatibility and sex of therapist. Differences in therapeutic outcome across levels of compatibility…

Examined effects of leader gender on group therapy clients' perceptions of coleader influence and effectiveness, testing hypothesis that there would be significant differences, with members perceiving male coleaders as more influential and effective than female co-leaders. Data from 18 male and 21 female clients revealed no significant differences…

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…

Psychologists (N=236) rated the desirability of various levels of eight therapist characteristics, including sex, for the optimal therapist for the presented case. Optimal ratings indicated that subjects thought it desirable for the therapist and the client to be of the same sex. (Author)

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)

Research has suggested that physical attractiveness contributes to subjects' perception of female competency. This finding has generated interest in investigating the effect of physical attractiveness on subjects' perceptions of competency in male and female therapists. Undergraduates (N=192) viewed a 15-minute videotaped session reflecting either…

Sexual feelings between therapist and client have been a source of theoretical controversy since the beginnings of modern psychotherapy. Psychotherapists' (N=72) verbal behavior, affective reactions, and clinical judgments in response to audiotapes of client sexual material were investigated. Therapist gender, client gender, and type of sexual…

University counseling center clients read one of six counselor descriptions generated by crossing counselor gender with counselor sex roles (feminine, androgynous, and masculine), then rated their willingness to see the counselor for a variety of concerns. Feminine sex role was rated highest for personal concerns, masculine for assertiveness…

Feminist therapists' writings, while focusing on the needs of female clients, do not always consider the limitations of the therapist. Gender differences in beginning psychotherapists' behaviors and client interactions were investigated to determine the effect of sex-role stereotyping on therapeutic interactions and interventions. Verbatim…