The effect of fee level on therapists' perception of competence and nonpossessive warmth

Therapists' fee levels generate conflict between their sense of providing nonpossessive warmth and their sense of competence. This was investigated by asking two groups of therapist trainees to self-rate their competence and nonpossessive warmth, respond to an exploratory, open-ended question, and rate a therapist in a vignette. Therapists in the high fee condition rated themselves as significantly more competent than those in the low fee condition. Fee level did not affect trainees' perception of nonpossessive warmth, however. Negative countertransference expectations are implicated in these findings, suggesting a need for greater awareness of fee issues in training, practice and supervision.