Treatment Duration and Termination Status Among Clients in a University-Based Counseling Center

Abstract

Researchers have long been interested in understanding for whom therapy works and why. This study sought to identify ways in which clients differ with regard to treatment outcomes such as treatment length, success, and termination status. Data for this study were taken from the client documents completed prior to the first session of therapy and the therapist-completed termination summary for 305 cases from a university-based marriage and family therapy clinic. Results suggest that soft-mandated and voluntary clients show similar success rates in treatment. Also, cases that terminated unilaterally had the lowest success rates, though rates were approximately equal across modality. This study provides information about treatment across different client characteristics and modalities.