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Patient Motivation for Psychotherapy Scale3

Patient Motivation for Psychotherapy Scale Test

Understand how ready a client is for change and how motivated they feel in about 5 minutes. Use the results to tailor therapy, strengthen engagement, and prevent stalls in progress.

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Questions: 245 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

25,422 views

2,001 completion

1,762 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

21/28

Amotivation (A)

Measures the degree to which a person lacks motivation for psychotherapy and perceives little meaning or benefit in participating.

Low amotivation

Moderate amotivation

High amotivation

4 – 12: Low amotivation | 13 – 20: Moderate amotivation | 21 – 28: High amotivation

A score of 21 falls in the high amotivation range, suggesting low perceived value of therapy and a higher likelihood of reduced engagement.

example score

21/28

External Regulation (ER)

Measures the extent to which a person’s motivation for psychotherapy is driven by external rewards, approval, or avoidance of negative consequences.

Low external regulation

Moderate external regulation

High external regulation

4 – 12: Low external regulation | 13 – 20: Moderate external regulation | 21 – 28: High external regulation

A score of 21 indicates high external regulation, suggesting engagement is largely influenced by external pressure or incentives rather than internal commitment.

example score

17/28

Integrated Regulation (IR)

Measures how strongly the person’s reasons for attending psychotherapy are integrated into their self-concept and personal values, supporting sustained engagement.

Low integration

Moderate integration

High integration

4 – 12: Low integration | 13 – 20: Moderate integration | 21 – 28: High integration

A score of 17 indicates moderate integration, suggesting the person generally experiences therapy goals as personally meaningful, though some motives may still be situational or not fully internalized.

example score

18/28

Identified Regulation (IR)

Assesses how strongly the person consciously values psychotherapy and sees its goals as personally meaningful and aligned with their own values.

Low

Moderate

High

4 – 12: Low | 13 – 20: Moderate | 21 – 28: High

A score of 18 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting the person generally recognizes therapy as valuable and meaningful, though this commitment may vary across goals or situations.

example score

11/28

Introjected Regulation (IR)

Measures the extent to which psychotherapy motivation is driven by internal pressure, guilt, or the need to meet internal standards rather than personal choice.

Low introjective pressure

Moderate introjective pressure

High introjective pressure

4 – 12: Low introjective pressure | 13 – 20: Moderate introjective pressure | 21 – 28: High introjective pressure

A score of 11 falls in the Low introjective pressure range, suggesting relatively little guilt- or “should”-driven pressure behind engaging in psychotherapy.

example score

17/28

Intrinsic Motivation (IM)

Measures the degree to which a person is motivated to engage in psychotherapy due to personal interest and inherent satisfaction with the process.

Low

Moderate

High

4 – 12: Low | 13 – 20: Moderate | 21 – 28: High

A score of 17 indicates a moderate level of intrinsic motivation, suggesting some internal interest in therapy that may benefit from being connected to personally meaningful goals.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Current therapy clients

44%OF USERS

People already in psychotherapy who want to understand how ready they are to change and what might be holding their progress back.

Therapists and counselors

35%OF USERS

Clinicians who use a quick check-in to gauge a client’s motivation and adjust techniques, pacing, and support accordingly.

Considering starting therapy

21%OF USERS

People thinking about psychotherapy who want clarity on whether their desire to work on themselves is internal or mostly driven by outside pressure.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Amotivation (A)

Average

12.7

Normal range

9.8 — 15.7

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

External Regulation (ER)

Average

13.1

Normal range

10.1 — 16.1

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Integrated Regulation (IR)

Average

19.1

Normal range

15.8 — 22.3

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Identified Regulation (IR)

Average

14.2

Normal range

10.2 — 18.3

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Introjective Regulation (IR)

Average

19.7

Normal range

15.7 — 23.7

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Intrinsic Motivation (IM)

Average

11.8

Normal range

7.6 — 16

min.

max.

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

Using the scale provided, please indicate the extent to which each item reflects your response to the question, “Why am I participating in a psychotherapy group?” The reason you initially sought services and the reason you are participating in the current psychotherapy work may differ. The focus of this questionnaire is your current motivation for participating in the psychotherapy group.

- Does not reflect at all
- Hardly reflects
- Reflects to some extent
- Moderately reflects
- Reflects more than it does not reflect
- Almost completely reflects
- Completely reflects
- Does not reflect at all
- Hardly reflects
- Reflects somewhat
- Reflects moderately
- Reflects more than it does not reflect
- Reflects almost completely
- Reflects completely
- Does not reflect at all
- Hardly reflects
- Reflects to some extent
- Moderately reflects
- Reflects more than it does not reflect
- Almost completely reflects
- Completely reflects

These are 3 of the 24 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Patient Motivation for Psychotherapy Scale Test - Symptoms and Signs

psychotherapy

self-determination

In psychotherapy settings, motivation and readiness for change are clinically relevant factors that can influence engagement and treatment planning. The Patient Motivation for Psychotherapy Scale is a brief self-report measure designed to assess reasons for participating in psychotherapy and the individual’s level of commitment to the therapeutic process.

The measure includes 24 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. Item content reflects a range of motivational orientations that may support or hinder sustained participation (e.g., internally driven vs. externally pressured reasons), which can inform discussion of goals, barriers, and strategies to strengthen engagement. The Patient Motivation for Psychotherapy Scale is intended to complement clinical judgment rather than serve as a standalone indicator of suitability for treatment.

Author: Edward L. Deci, Richard M. Ryan

Literature: Norcross, J. C. Psychotherapy relationships that work: Evidence-based responsiveness. Oxford University Press. 2011.; Pelletier, L. G., Tuson, K. M., & Haddad, N. K. Client Motivation for Therapy Scale: A measure of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and amotivation for therapy. Journal of Personality Assessment. 1997.