Attitudes about psychotherapy: A qualitative study of introductory psychology students who have never been in psychotherapy and the influence of attachment style

Abstract

Design: Interviews about attitudes about psychotherapy with 12 undergraduate students who had never been in psychotherapy were analysed using consensual qualitative research. Results: Participants believed that the client role is to disclose, be receptive, and be motivated; that the therapist role is to listen, support, and give advice; and that the therapeutic relationship should be close and personal. Participants had ideas about the benefits (a healing therapeutic relationship, personal and interpersonal changes) and the barriers (self-stigma and public stigma, difficulty revealing, need to solve problems on own, cost) associated with seeking therapy, and they disliked the idea of being diagnosed. In contrast with participants who were securely attached, those who were insecurely attached more often wanted a professional therapeutic relationship, wanted the therapist to ask questions, mentioned fewer benefits to therapy, and thought that they would have difficulty disclosing to a therapist. Discussion: Implications for changing attitudes about psychotherapy and improving training programs for practitioners are discussed.

Keywords:

• attachment style
• attitudes about psychotherapy

Acknowledgements

We thank Stefano Blasi and John Jackson for their feedback about this project.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Clara E. Hill

Clara E. Hill is a professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland

Alexandra C. Simpson

At the time of the study, Dorli B. Satterwhite, Maria L. Larrimore, Aliya R. Mann, Victoria C. Johnson, Rachel E. Simon, and Alexandra C. Simon were all undergraduate students in the Department of Psychology at the University of Maryland

Sarah Knox

Sarah Knox is a professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin