Therapist's Expectations of Psychotherapy Duration for Individuals Living with HIV

Abstract

Data were collected from 102 psychotherapists providing mental health care to individuals living with HIV at a mental health clinic in the Southeastern United States, for the purpose of assessing the perceptions of therapists with regard to necessary therapy duration for a range of mental health issues and disorders. Analyses were conducted to explore the extent to which therapists perceived the need for different therapy durations for individuals living with HIV rather than those who had not received such a diagnosis. Across all mental health issues assessed, therapists indicated a greater need for therapy duration when an HIV diagnosis was also present, and this generally was consistent without regard to therapist education, demographics, or therapeutic orientation. Given the extent to which mental health care is often a routine component of the HIV social services infrastructure, the findings of this study have important implications for mental health providers, mental health training programs, and the staff and volunteers of other HIV-related organizations.

Key Words:

• HIV
• mental health care
• therapy duration