The Effects of Counselor Fee and Title on Perceptions of Counselor Behavior

Abstract

This study examined the effects of a counselor's fee level and title on perceptions of counselor behavior. Three levels of fee were compared: high fee, low fee, and sliding scale; and two levels of title were compared: counseling psychologist versus professional counselor. Sixty female undergraduate participants rated the credibility, attractiveness, and effectiveness of a counselor after observing her in a brief videotaped counseling simulation and reading a background description of her. The results indicate that fee level significantly affected the perceptions of counselor credibility, attractiveness, expertness, and overall counselor behavior. Title had no significant effect on perceptions of counselor behavior. Implications and limitations of these findings are discussed, and areas requiring future research are suggested.

College Students' Perceptions of the Relationship Between Fee and Counseling

“…The only confirmed hypothesis was that the expected maintenance of therapeutic changes was consistent across fee conditions. These results are surprising in light of other studies that showed that fee had no impact on willingness to seek help (Dworkin & Lyddon, 1991;Subich & Hardin, 1985) or number of sessions (Dworkin & Lyddon, 1991) and had a positive effect on the evaluation of counselor credibility and expertness (Conoley & Bonner, 1991). One could argue that actual clients might be more motivated than potential clients and that fees would be less likely to have an adverse effect within that population.…”

“…In studying the counseling process, rather than consumer issues, Conoley and Bonner (1991) showed an undergraduate sample a 10minute video of a counseling simulation. Their study indicated that fee level significantly affected the students' perceptions of counselor credibility, attractiveness, expertness, and overall counselor behavior.…”

“…This study was an improvement over others because it used a fee reflective of available community services ($80) in addition to a sliding-scale condition. Conoley and Bonner (1991) did not report a manipulation check and exposed participants to a scenario in which the client had already made a decision to seek services.…”

Systematic Review of Interventions Focusing on Indigenous Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Use

“…Greenberg found that the experienced therapist was seen as significantly more attractive and receptive than the inexperienced one. Although not all of the more recent studies have found an association between reputational cues and perceived therapist credibility, the majority have found significant results indicating that experienced therapists are perceived as being more credible than less experienced ones (Conoley & Bonner, 1991;Littrell, Caffrey, & Hopper, 1987;Miller, 1993). Pooling together both the positive and negative results from this body of research, in the previously mentioned meta-analysis, Hoyt (1996) found a significant relationship between these two variables with a medium-sized effect in favor of experienced therapists (d = 0.51).…”

Untitled

“…Greenberg found that the experienced therapist was seen as significantly more attractive and receptive than the inexperienced one. Although not all of the more recent studies have found an association between reputational cues and perceived therapist credibility, the majority have found significant results indicating that experienced therapists are perceived as being more credible than less experienced ones (Conoley & Bonner, 1991;Littrell, Caffrey, & Hopper, 1987;Miller, 1993). Pooling together both the positive and negative results from this body of research, in the previously mentioned meta-analysis, Hoyt (1996) found a significant relationship between these two variables with a medium-sized effect in favor of experienced therapists (d = 0.51).…”