Perceptions of Psychotherapy Waiting Rooms: Design Recommendations

This study fills the gap in literature by examining the design elements preferred in psychotherapy waiting rooms.

Studies have examined waiting rooms in hospitals and doctors' offices, but there is little published literature on waiting rooms in psychotherapy offices. Waiting rooms in psychotherapy offices may affect clients' perceived quality of care and their comfort level.

Psychotherapists in Connecticut and Rhode Island were interviewed and agreed to have the waiting rooms (20 in total) of their practices photographed. Then, in a within-subjects design, 250 participants (225 retained for analyses) from MTurk answered questions about the quality of care and comfort in the environment expected in those 20 waiting rooms.

Factor analytic results showed that waiting rooms that were welcoming and comfortable as well as large and spacious rated higher for the quality of care and comfort in the environment anticipated by the participant; those that were cramped and crowded rated lower. Few therapists reported any design education about counseling environments and none about the waiting room.

Information from this study can guide the design of psychotherapy waiting rooms and enhance healthcare experience.