Abstract
Involuntary clients who had been in dynamically oriented individual treatment in a forensic clinic were contacted to obtain their perceptions of treatment. The 28 clients were asked to assess their motivation for psychological treatment and the perceived outcome of treatment. The clients' former therapists (n = 6) had previously rated their patients' motivation and treatment success as a routine part of the clinic termination process. Analysis indicated that therapists and clients generally agreed on clients' motivation but not on therapeutic improvement. The usual demographic variables (sex, race, age, socio-economic status) did not correlate with treatment success. The only variable which showed a significant correlation with therapeutic outcome was client's motivation. Results were discussed in terms of the need to consider the special nature of the involuntary client within the criminal justice system.
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