Attitudes Toward Psychotherapy Among Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union

The purpose of this study was to determine attitudes toward psychotherapy among adult immigrants of the former Soviet Union (FSU) and the factors that predict more positive attitudes toward psychotherapy. The sample included 65 FSU immigrants. As age increased, respondents had less intent to seek psychological services, less stigma tolerance, and less belief in psychologists' expertness. Women had significantly greater intent to seek psychological services, greater stigma tolerance, and greater belief in psychologists' expertness than men. The longer participants had been in the United States, the more they showed a belief in the expertness of psychologists. Respondents with prior experience of psychotherapy had significantly greater intent to seek psychological services and greater belief in psychologists' expertness than respondents with no prior experience with psychotherapy. No significant differences for intent, stigma tolerance, and expertness were found in relation to participants having health insurance or in regards to differing levels of education level. The results may assist therapists in facilitating the psychological help seeking of FSU immigrants.