Tape recorders in clinical sessions: Deliberate and fortuitous effects

Literature indicates that tape recorders have five purposes in clinical work: observation of sessions; teaching, research, recording, and treatment adjunct. Experience indicates that when a tape recorder is used for any of these purposes, client responses to the tape recorder can express transference or psychopathology. Such client responses can be used to deepen sessions. Experience also indicates that therapist responses to the tape recorder occasionally impede practice. However, therapists using tape recorders typically work at peak levels, because the tape recorder symbolizes recognition by others.