WHAT DO PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT PSYCHOTHERAPY

This study assessed the information people want about psychotherapy, and the effect of prior exposure to a written consent form on preferences for information. One hundred eight participants, half of whom had received a written informed consent form (Handelsman & Galvin, 1988), answered an open-ended question about their preferences for information. Participants most frequently asked for information about the therapist, especially personal characteristics. Least frequently cited were items concerning appointments, alternatives, and confidentiality. Participants exposed to the written consent form were more likely to ask about confidentiality and financial arrangements and, if they had not had previous therapy experience, were less likely to ask about personal characteristics of the therapist. People who come for psychotherapy may not be aware that they can ask questions about some of the most important information they need and to which they are entitled.