The Effect of Expectations on Intention to Persist in Therapy

Authors

Carissa A. Daniello-Heyda, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Rachel B. Tambling, University of ConnecticutFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-20-2016

Publication Title

The American Journal of Family Therapy

Volume

45

Issue

1

First page number:

37

Last page number:

50

Abstract

Little is known about the impact of expectations on persistence in couple and family therapy. A better understanding of the factors that contribute to persistence in therapy is key to understanding therapeutic dropout. We report results of a secondary grounded theory analysis of individual, couple, and family therapy clients’ therapy expectations and their intention to persist in therapy. Participants were 19 clients of MFTs. Results indicate that clients carry expectations about the therapist, therapy process, duration, and outcome. Positive disconfirmation (Tambling & Johnson, 2010) of negative expectations contributed to therapy persistence.

Repository Citation

Daniello-Heyda, C. A., Tambling, R. B. (2016). The Effect of Expectations on Intention to Persist in Therapy. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 45(1), 37-50.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2016.1223568