Psychotherapist ghosting is a type of inappropriate, therapist-initiated termination of treatment in which the therapist ceases communication with their patient without prior notice. A total of 77 patients (M age = 34) who reported being ghosted by their therapist completed a web-based therapist ghosting survey (TGS) that assessed their perceptions of multiple aspects of this event. Results indicated that these patients, on average, unsuccessfully attempted to contact their therapist four times following being ghosted but that the great majority never again communicated with this therapist; they attributed being ghosted to several possibilities, including their therapist's finding them too difficult, their therapist's own problems, and/or a major event in their therapist's personal life. They experienced shock, frustration, anxiety, resentment, and sadness as a result of this action, emotions that tended to dissipate over time. Given its emotional toll on patients and the ethical violation inherent in the act of ghosting, further research on the prevalence, consequences, and therapists' motives for this behavior seems imperative.
Clinical Impact StatementQuestion: What are clients' perceptions of the reasons for and consequences of their being "ghosted" by their therapist? Findings: Therapist ghosting is perceived by clients as distressing, shocking, hurtful, and unprofessional; many choose not to continue psychotherapy treatment following this experience. Meaning: Given the harmful consequences experienced by clients as a result of therapist ghosting, therapists need to be mindful of the ethical mandates regarding termination. Next Steps: Future investigation will focus on therapists' perspectives, motives, and other contributing factors, informing preventative (i.e., updated termination guidelines) measures.
This study investigated psychotherapists' media use since the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic. A total of 186 psychotherapists completed a 15‐item self‐report survey on the movies and TV shows they had watched, and the reasons for their choices, since the outbreak of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Results indicated therapists primarily watched material they described as comedic, distracting, thought‐provoking, and psychologically engaging. In addition, they reported choosing media that appealed to their spouses and/or children. It is theorized that therapists' media selections are reinforcing their regulatory flexibility, allowing them to grapple with the harsh reality of the pandemic while simultaneously providing themselves emotional safety and relief in the form of distancing and distraction.
Incarcerated individuals experience mental health symptoms resulting from the stress of incarceration, as well as from prior histories of trauma. In addition, the growth of the prison population and the increase in sentence lengths have eroded conditions in correctional facilities, leading to increased stress, trauma, and other mental health issues. Psychologists can help incarcerated individuals address existing mental health issues, cope with the trauma of incarceration, and prepare for successful re‐entry into society. However, the effectiveness of psychotherapy may be hampered by a number of factors that inhibit client disclosure in correctional settings. Based on interviews with forensic psychologists and an incarcerated patient, this paper explores the circumstances that prevent disclosure in correctional settings and proposes recommendations for psychologists to facilitate disclosure to improve therapeutic effectiveness.
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