What is it about?
This research asked whether psychotherapists’ preferred ways of conducting therapy match with patients’ preferences for receiving it. We found that psychotherapists tended to prefer patients who take more initiative and express emotions more intensely than patients themselves preferred. These differences were largely consistent across therapists with different training backgrounds and personal therapy experiences, though clinical experience had a small influence.
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Why is it important?
This study is unique because psychotherapy is expanding rapidly in China, yet many therapists still rely heavily on Western-based approaches that may not fully match local clients’ preferences. By revealing these gaps, the research highlights the importance of discussing therapy preferences in treatment, which can help therapists better engage clients, adapt therapy to their needs, and improve overall treatment outcomes.
Perspectives
Writing this article was a great pleasure, especially because I had the opportunity to collaborate with long-standing co-authors. Personally, this research gave me deeper insights into the specific therapy preferences of patients in China. Understanding these preferences allows us to provide more tailored and culturally sensitive services, which I believe is essential for improving engagement and outcomes in psychotherapy.
Zhuang SHE
Nanjing University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A comparison of patients’ preferences for psychotherapy with
psychotherapists’ preferences for delivering psychotherapy in
China., Psychotherapy, September 2025, American Psychological Association (APA),
DOI: 10.1037/pst0000600.
You can read the full text:
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