EFFECTS OF PRETHERAPY VIDEOTAPE PREPARATION ON CHILD THERAPY OUTCOMES

We assessed the effects of preparation on mothers' and children's (aged 8-16) knowledge and evaluations of outcome of child psychotherapy in an outpatient setting. 49 families were randomly assigned to a control or an experimental group. Knowledge of therapy was assessed before the 1st therapy session. Problem severity was assessed with global and target symptom scales before the 1st session and after the 4th session by parents and children. Results indicated that prepared Ss evinced greater knowledge (p <.001) of the structure and the process of therapy than did nonprepared Ss. Prepared mothers rated their children as evincing fewer targeted problematic behaviors over the course of 4 therapy sessions (p <.05), a perception not shared by children. Implications for therapy with children are noted.