title: Evidence of a pronounced preference for therapy guided by common factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent evidence presented in this journal (Swift & Callahan, 2010) suggests that psychotherapy clients may place more value on nonspecific common factors-such as a warm and relatable therapist-than on the level of empirical support for a particular intervention. The present study investigated the possibility that this trend would also extend to those who have never received professional psychological help.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and twenty-nine adults from across the United States (60.2% female, mean age = 35.92) each rated their attitudes toward seeking two varieties of psychotherapy: one emphasizing nonspecific common factors, and one emphasizing specific evidence-based therapy ingredients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analyses revealed a pronounced preference for therapy guided by common factors among clients and nonclients alike, even when controlling for a host of individual difference variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data conceptually replicate Swift and Callahan's findings and indicate that potential clients may seek help more readily from providers who accentuate the nonspecific aspects of therapy.
authors: University of Florida. lkswan@ufl.edu
authors: Lawton K
authors: LK
authors: Swan
authors: Martin
authors: M
authors: Heesacker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: client preferences; common factors; empirically supported interventions; evidence-based practice; great psychotherapy debate; help-seeking attitudes; mental and behavioral health care; public interest; specific ingredients