Differences in psychotherapy preferences between psychotherapy trainees and laypeople

Figures & data

Table I. Item level comparison between samples.

	Laypeople (N = 969)		Trainees (N = 466)
Item	M	SD	M	SD	t	d
1. Focus on goals vs. not focus on goals	1.20	1.54	1.04	1.71	1.75	0.10
2. Give structure vs. allow unstructured	1.54	1.47	0.98	1.73	6.07*	0.36
3. Teach skills vs. not teach skills	2.24	1.36	1.75	1.59	5.72*	0.34
4. Give homework vs. not give homework	1.00	1.52	−0.05	2.13	9.58*	0.61
5. Take lead vs. allow client lead	0.86	1.48	−0.24	1.63	12.39*	0.72
6. Encourage difficult emotions vs. not encourage	2.04	1.28	2.47	1.09	−6.60*	0.35
7. Talk about relationship vs. not talk	1.36	1.43	2.17	1.19	−11.25*	0.60
8. Focus on therapy relationship vs. not focus on therapy relationship	0.53	1.62	1.74	1.27	−15.45*	0.80
9. Encourage strong feeling vs. not encourage	1.64	1.33	2.29	1.09	−9.86*	0.52
10. Focus on feelings vs. focus on thoughts	0.50	1.44	0.86	1.24	−4.92*	0.26
11. Focus on past vs. focus on present	−0.17	1.56	−0.26	1.26	1.13	0.06
12. Reflect childhood vs. reflect adulthood	−0.06	1.70	−0.03	1.44	−0.29	0.02
13. Focus on past vs. focus on future	−0.31	1.59	−0.31	1.21	0.00	0.00
14. Be gentle vs. be challenging	−0.04	1.55	−0.41	1.21	4.97*	0.26
15. Supportive vs. confrontational	1.04	1.62	0.50	1.32	6.77*	0.36
16. Not interrupt vs. interrupt	0.14	1.61	−0.21	1.52	4.05*	0.22
17. Not challenge beliefs and views vs. challenge beliefs and views	−1.20	1.56	−1.55	1.34	4.36*	0.23
18. Support behaviour unconditionally vs. challenge behaviour	−1.36	1.45	−1.39	1.26	0.97	0.05

Note: Larger scores resemble preferences for left-hand option. Cohen’s d: small effects: 0.2 - 0.5, medium effects: 0.5 - 0.8, large effects ≥ 0.8. Items 1-5: therapist vs. client directiveness; Items 6–10: emotional intensity vs. reserve; Items 11–13: past vs. present orientation; Items 14–18: warm support vs. focused challenge.

* p < .003 (Bonferroni-corrected significance level)

Table II. Scale level comparisons between samples.

	Laypeople (N = 969)			Trainees (N = 466)
Scale	M	SD	α	M	SD	α	t	d
Therapist vs. Client Directiveness	6.85	5.36	.78	3.47	6.80	.83	9.40*	0.58
Emotional Intensity vs. Reserve	6.07	5.00	.75	9.54	3.93	.69	−14.27*	0.74
Past vs. Present Orientation	−0.53	4.39	.89	−0.59	3.48	.87	0.29	0.02
Warm Support vs. Focused Challenge	−1.38	5.05	.65	−3.07	4.16	.61	6.71*	0.35

Note: Larger scores resemble preference for left-hand option. Cohen’s d: small effects: 0.2–0.5, medium effects: 0.5–0.8, large effects ≥ 0.8.

* p < .001

Figure 1. Descriptives and post-hoc-differences of psychotherapy experience on C-NIP subscales.Note: Plots show means ± 1 SD and data distribution.

** p < .01, *** p < .001.

Figure 2. Descriptives and post-hoc-differences of trainees’ psychotherapy orientation on C-NIP subscales.Note: Plots show means ± 1 SD and data distribution. CBT = cognitive behavioural therapy; PD/PA: psychodynamic / psychoanalytic therapy.

*** p < .001.