doi:10.1037/h0085921

Paper Title

Descriptive characteristics and length of psychotherapy of child and adult clients seen in private psychological practice.

Authors

Mary P. Koss

Keywords

psychotherapy duration
private practice
client demographics
adult therapy
child therapy
mental health treatment
psychological services
therapy sessions
treatment length
insurance coverage
medication use
therapy outcomes
psychological diagnoses
middle-class clients
therapy accessibility
mental health statistics
court involvement
previous therapy experience
psychotherapy research
clinical psychology
therapeutic interventions
counseling trends
psychological treatment patterns

Article Type

Research Article

Journal

Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training

Research Impact Tools

DOI

10.1037/h0085921

Issue

Volume : 17 | Issue : 3 | Page No : 268–271

Published On

April, 1980

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Abstract

Demographic and diagnostic characteristics of adult and child clients who entered psychotherapy at a given private psychological clinic during 1975 are described, and several client characteristics are related to length of psychotherapy. Data on 100 adult and 72 child clients suggest that they were well-educated, middle-class, and mildly to moderately disturbed. Length of treatment was a median of 8 sessions over 2.5 mo for adults and a median of 13 sessions over 5.5 mo for children. The client variable of having insurance coverage was related (p < .05) to length of psychotherapy for both children and adults. Taking medication was related (p < .005) to length of stay for adults. Previous therapy or court involvement were not significantly related to length of treatment in this sample. (4 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)