Marriage and family therapists evaluate managed mental health care: A qualitative inquiry

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.