Consumer Expectations and Attitudes about Psychotherapy: A Survey (Preprint)

Abstract

While mental illness is common amongst adults in the United States, access to and public perception of mental health care continues to present as key barriers to care. Given the importance of attitudes toward and perceptions of mental health treatment in the successful access to and treatment of mental health issues, the primary goal of this survey study was to further investigate consumer perspectives of psychotherapy amongst adults in the United States; specifically adding to the literature by investigating perceptions of both the general public and patients receiving telehealth.

More specifically, the aims were to better understand: (1) openness to, and satisfaction with therapy, (2) perceptions, preferences, and expectations around therapy, and (3) perceptions of psychotropic medication.

An electronic survey was administered to current and former psychotherapy patients of a nationwide telehealth company, as well as to the general public; both convenience samples. Using the same survey questions, Brightside surveyed its own members (using Qualtrics) and the U.S. general population (using Survey Monkey’s Audience Panel Solution). This survey included questions about basic participant demographics, as well as various questions about current mental health treatment, perceptions about therapy, and about therapists’ qualities.

A total of 714 people completed the survey. The data was fairly evenly split between those collected from Brightside patients (51.5%) versus from the general public (48.5%). Combining both samples, overall participation was 67% female, 73% Caucasian (7.3% Asian, 6.7% African American, 7.4% Hispanic/Latino), largely 25 to 34 years old (35.7%) or 35 to 44 years old (26.2%), from either Mid Atlantic (18.3%) or South Atlantic (18.1%) regions of the country, and most earning annual salaries of $30,000 to $100,999 (56.3%). There were generally favorable perceptions of both psychotherapy and psychiatric medication. Common factors in therapy are important to patients in terms of selecting a therapist, as are cost and insurance. Preference for online therapy was most commonly endorsed (44%), while preference for in-person therapy was least common (22.4%), with 33.6% reporting no preference either way. The most commonly held perception of psychotherapy duration was ‘indefinitely’ (35%). Very few (8.1%) thought therapy typically lasts 1 to 3 months. Most participants thought evidence-based practice was important.

Public education is needed to increase awareness of the typical duration and cost of psychotherapy. There appears to be generally favorable perceptions of both psychotherapy and psychotropic medication. Common factors in therapy are important to patients in terms of selecting a therapist, as are cost and insurance. Practitioners and those marketing their services might consider countering some of the more common falsely held beliefs in their marketing campaigns.