A relationship was found between therapists' orientations, defenses, and demographics. Three significant canonical variates were derived. The first was a group of men with doctoral degrees using reaction formation and projective style with little doubt or regression and oriented against marathons, physical contact, and expressive techniques. The second featured regression, displacement, doubt, projective style, regressive style, and repression. This group favored the therapeutic importance of therapist's personality and psychoanalytic orientation while minimizing feeling secure as a therapist and the need for social adjustment. They had a relatively young, inexperienced, nondoctoral composition. The third variate emphasized rationalizing style and deemphasized doubt and projective style.
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