The meaning of therapists' hope for their clients: A phenomenological study.

Hope is often identified as a central process in psychotherapy, with researchers supporting links between clients' hope, symptom distress, and process variables. However, this body of literature is yet to specifically ask what it means for psychotherapists to have hope for their clients. Our purpose, with this descriptive phenomenological study, was to understand the meaning of therapists' hope for their clients. This information has the potential to better inform how therapists think about their own hope for clients and the ways in which this is transmitted to clients who may enter therapy in a state of hopelessness. To accomplish this, we interviewed psychologists (N = 8) using a semistructured interview protocol. Interviews were transcribed then analyzed in accordance with descriptive phenomenology guidelines. Four themes were identified: (a) a sense of holding and possibility; (b) fundamental, dynamic, and reflective practice; (c) client influence (positive and negative) on hope; and (d) connection through hope. The findings are discussed in light of therapist effects in psychotherapy, the internal world of therapists, and training implications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Pretreatment counseling experiences, stressors, and support differences between transgender and cisgender university students seeking mental healthcare.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to explore rates of prior counseling experiences as well as pretreatment stressors and supports among transgender university students seeking psychotherapy services in university counseling centers. METHODS: We used regression models to explore relationships between gender identity and prior mental health experiences, risk-related experiences, traumatic experiences, and support among clients (cisgender: n = 162,305; transgender: n = 545) seeking treatment at 136 university counseling centers. RESULTS: Results demonstrate more previous mental health service utilization and greater frequency of some prior stressors transgender clients. Findings indicate the odds of transgender clients reporting drug and alcohol concerns are lower than the reference group. Additionally, transgender clients report less familial support but more social support than cisgender clients. CONCLUSION: We discuss the importance of these findings through a more holistic lens that recognizes both stressors as well as positive factors that may more accurately characterize the experiences of transgender clients.