Abstract
Objective Since the COVID-19 pandemic, psychotherapy has more
frequently been promoted and practiced online. Past research suggests
that displaying psychotherapist credentials in the therapy office
affects perceptions of the psychotherapist. The aim of the present study
was to assess whether credential information from an online source would
have a similar impact. Method Participants ( N = 168)
viewed two emulations of psychotherapist websites. One of these web
pages included credentials and the other did not. After viewing each web
page, participants rated their perceptions of the psychotherapist’s
expertness and likely empathy. Results Analysis revealed that
psychotherapists were viewed as more expert when professional
credentials were provided. The same was true for perceived empathy, but
only when the psychotherapist and participant were racially matched. The
study failed to find evidence that psychotherapists were viewed
differently based on their years of experience. Conclusion The
study results suggest that prospective clients would be more likely to
perceive a psychotherapist positively when the therapist’s credentials
are provided. Such a finding supports the inclusion of credential and
training information when advertising treatment services.