Clients' satisfaction with Project Liberty counseling services

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Public Health
• Disaster Mental Health

Background:

• The September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center necessitated widespread mental health support.
• Project Liberty was established to provide counseling services to affected individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess client satisfaction with service quality and effectiveness of Project Liberty counseling.
• To evaluate the accessibility, acceptability, and utility of post-disaster mental health services.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous questionnaires and telephone interviews were administered to 607 service recipients.
• Satisfaction was measured across 11 service quality dimensions and 4 effectiveness domains.
• Effectiveness domains included daily responsibilities, relationships, physical health, and community involvement.

Main Results:

• At least 89% of recipients rated services as good or excellent.
• High ratings were observed across all 11 quality dimensions and 4 effectiveness domains.
• Counselor respect for clients and cultural sensitivity were particularly well-regarded.

Conclusions:

• Project Liberty counselors were largely successful in delivering accessible, acceptable, and useful services post-disaster.
• Client satisfaction indicates the effectiveness of the provided mental health interventions.
• Cost-effective evaluations can integrate with evidence-based practice for efficient interventions.