title: Marriage and family therapists evaluate managed mental health care: a qualitative inquiry.
abstract: This study examined the experiences of 26 marriage and family therapists working in managed mental health care. A qualitative strategy was used to explore therapists' perspectives regarding practice in a managed care environment. Using an open-ended, semi-structured, mailed questionnaire four themes emerged from the data. These are the adaptations of clinical practice, issues of treatment duration/abandonment, effects of managed care on the therapeutic relationship, and issues of diagnosis. Recommendations are drawn from the findings and discussed.
authors.affiliation: School of Family Life, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602,  USA. lchristensen@familyserviceomaha.org
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005196:Family Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000592:standards*; D008388:Marital Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009329:Nebraska; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires