Dear Cinar,

In his classic The art of Psychotherapy, Anthony Storr talked about the qualities of a psychotherapist and the ways he set up his office.

I wonder if the following article is of interest to you:

http://www.markpearson.com.au/pdf/pearson-wilson_ideal_counselling_rooms_2012.pdf

https://books.google.com/books?id=Z6n8coK_ynoC

Important question, Çınar. I am not aware of studies in the field. However, some years ago, I noticed that a patient "waiting room" for persons receiving psychotherapy was a comfortable setting where anyone could and did sit: patient, psychologist, visiting researcher etc. I

t struck me that this arrangement might ameliorate potential stigma among patients who feel ashamed about being seen in a ´place´reserved for those with psychological disorders. The setting in question is at a clinic in the University of Trondheim, Norway. Whether it was designed that way deliberately or not, I think this "therapeutic landscape" raises interesting questions. Best wishes, Paul

Dear Cinar, 

Did you ever visit Freud's room at Berggasse 19 Wienna, Austria. There you can see that he had a lot of small object to stimulate the patients fantasy. I have seen different rooms, some with wonderful paintings by famous painters, others with basically nothing, cold and uninviting.  You can clearly see that not all psychotherapist are artistic and do not have taste. This does not mean that they would not be good at their work. Finally the interaction between the therapist and the client is the real decisive factor, regardless of colors and taste.  

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Hello,  Cinar,

Did You see this "collection" of 25 counselling/psychotherapy rooms? I really like it and the different, interesting ideas of making therapeutic settings. May be some of them will inspire you when organizing own environment for psychotherapy? Best wishes,Renata.

http://jodiegale.com/creative-spaces-inside-25-counselling-psychotherapy-rooms/

    Obviously, a safe place, well... but not harshly lite, quiet, window light if possible, comfortable chairs and free of distractions such as phone calls, all interruptions, etc are important. but really, its all in the interaction and relationship between the client and the counselor/therapist. Counseling then can occur any place and in any venue. Other venues though should be controlled and have a therapeutic purpose.                      Recently, I worked with a young lady whom had been dumped unexpectedly by her boy friend. I was at a McDonalds', not the best place for any of the factors above, a young lady came in whom knew me asked for help. By the end of an hour, she was stabilized, up beat, had direction and an appointment for another session. It is about the relationship, not necessarily the place.

Thank you T.R. Barnes and others for the insight of focusing a psychotherapy session on the relationship and the time-space element within that independently of the outer setting.

I would recommend investigating the client /audience in order to find or create the relevant space. There are  different schools on what a therapeutic room should provoke in a client. Goldsmith Art Psychotherapy graduates learn to keep an art psycho-therapeutic room as clean and neutral as possible not to provoke external stimulation or judgement (definately not with 'wonderful' paintings).  Working with PD and young people and also with homeless and prison inmates psychotherapeutically over the last 25 years my recommendation is that you choose setting and decoration most conciousely if indoors. E.G. Many of our young people having experienced neglectful or abusive homes get side tracked at best, upset and negative at worst confronted with objects of beauty, niceness, cosyness and often express that a sparseness feels'right' and reflects their state of emotion, thereby feeling accepted and invited. Working with traumatised or pedophile young men who are NEET and intellectually failing a room of fairies, plush cushions and books might provoke a good conversation yes, but do not always help to feel adequate and open but stimulate the feelings of difference and failure. I have undertaken effective psychotherapeutic sessions in prison corridors, outside, stripped cellar washrooms, porta cabins, tents and under trees and around camp fires. My preferred way to work is still mirroring the clients inner states and 'blank canvas' possibilities then to demonstrate a plush cosyness - and I find those the most creative spaces the 'despite' settings!

Working the psycotherapist on the universe of subjectivity, the scenarios should suit as much as possible to the patient's sensitivities, unleash his inner stimulations and reorganize his psycobehariour objectivity. In general, a warm and quiet place with appropriate background music and stimulating colors, behavioral empathy of the psycotherapist and wide range of ability to understand are always positive factors.

Dear Friends

This is an interesting discussion. I think that more research should be conducted on what 'patients' prefer as regards a therapeutic landscape of which they are a part. Yes, there will be different preferences, but varimax rotation and/or qualitative analysis might identify some common themes.

Best wishes Paul

Who is achieving the therapy? White middle class articulate and with mild to moderate difficulties or young alienated marginalised minority who finds sitting in an office talking too conflictual to contemplate. Like "going to see the man". The conditions vary for optimal work I have seen effective therapy undertaken around a snooker table, while playing table tennis or walking outside. Therapy in non traditional locations sometimes needs to happen to work for that particular client.