Abstract
BACKGROUND. Therapist Targeted Googling (TTG) involves a patient using the internet to find information about their therapist (Eichenberg & Sawyer, 2016). The TTG literature is sparse. The current study investigated TTG prevalence and associated factors, motivations behind TTG, emotions evoked, and whether the therapeutic relationship is impacted. METHOD. Participants were adults who had attended at least one session with a therapist. Participants (n= 266) completed an anonymous online survey containing closed and open questions. The survey completion rate was 91%. Open-ended data were analysed using thematic analysis. FINDINGS. Sample prevalence of TTG was 67%. Over one in five who undertook TTG did so more than six times on the same therapist, using sources including social media platforms and paid-for services. Use of deception or illegal methods were not disclosed. Participants were significantly more likely to conduct TTG if they were having therapy privately or through a charitable provider; had worked with more than one therapist or were having sessions more often than weekly. TTG was common when participants were having Psychodynamic Psychotherapy or Cognitive Analytic Therapy. Motivators included wanting to see if the therapist is qualified, curiosity, missing the therapist and wanting to know them better. TTG resulted in a wide range of emotions, the most common being guilt. Nearly a quarter who undertook TTG thought the findings impacted on the therapeutic relationship, with findings having diverse perceived impacts. CONCLUSION. TTG beyond common sense consumerism can be conceptualised as an attachment behaviour. Disclosures of TTG may constitute important therapeutic material.