Raveena Gill & Kristin von Ranson, PhD.

Department of Psychology, University of Calgary

Background

Summary

Response Rate
No (no
given
reason)
10%
No
Time
33%

There was little agreement on what constituted the best

reason for selecting a psychotherapy approach. The
most common reason endorsed was that the
counsellor had had experience with a psychotherapy
approach. However, fewer than two out of five
respondents selected this reason. Other reasons
endorsed included research evidence, treatment fitting
clients needs, counsellor being trained in that
treatment, and others were unsure.
The desired level of involvement in treatment decisions
varied across respondents, but generally most
respondents wanted substantial rather than little
involvement.
The majority of respondents expected a counsellor to
discuss treatment options with them, but this did not
seem to happen in the past as the majority of
respondents were not given treatment options.

Yes
45%

Best Reason for Choosing a Psychotherapy

Approach

45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

% of Participants

Mental health clinicians do not tend to highly value

research evidence when choosing which psychotherapy
to use with a client.
Many mental health clinicians do not use empirically
supported treatments (ESTs).
A study by von Ranson & Robinson in 2006 explored
psychotherapy decisions among eating disorder
clinicians.
Half of clinicians reported reported using eclectic
treatments (not ESTs)
60% reported that having had past experience was
their main reason for choosing a psychotherapy.
Patient perspective on research evidence and ESTs
has not been explored.
It is important to understand the patient perspective
because patients may be unaware how treatment
decisions are made, or that multiple effective
treatments often exist, which may impact informed
consent.

Not
Comfo-
rtable
2%
Not
Intere-
sted
10%

38.9
16.7

16.7

16.7

11.1

Conclusions

Purpose

Method

Collaborated with Access Mental Health, a service

offered by Alberta Health Services.
1. Access Mental Health staff screened clients over the
phone for eligibility.
2. Eligibility: age 18+ years and seeking mental health
treatment for self/others.
3. If client eligible and agreed to participate, call was
transferred to a researcher.
4. Clients were interviewed using a 29-item semistructured interview.

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Level of Desired Involvement in Treatment

Decisions

% of Participants

This study explored knowledge and expectations that

adults who are seeking mental health treatment have for
how psychotherapy decisions are made as well as the
informed consent process.

33.3

27.8

33.3

5.6

Completely

Mostly

% Expect Counsellor to Present

Treatment Options No
5.6%

Results

N = 18
Sex: Female = 94.4%, Male = 5.6%.
Ethnicity: Caucasian = 94.4%, Arab/West Asian = 5.6%
Mean age: 35.2 years.

Adults seeking mental health treatment:

Often believed a clinicians past experience is the
best reason for choosing a psychotherapy.
Wished to be involved in treatment decision-making.
Highly valued and expected informed consent.
However, participants with previous counselling
experience reported that consent did not include any
choice in treatment approach.
Research is needed with larger samples to improve
generalizability of results.

Yes
94.4%

Somewhat

A Little

% Given Treatment Option in

Past (n = 10)
Given
10%

Not
Given
90%

Reference

von Ranson, K. M. & Robinson, K. E. (2006). Who is

providing what type of psychotherapy to eating
disorder clients? A survey. International Journal of
Eating Disorders, 39, 27-34.

Contact: kvonrans@ucalgary.ca
gillr@ucalgary.ca