The Cooper-Norcross Inventory of Preferences (C-NIP) enables clients to express their preferences for psychotherapy. For instance, would they like a therapist who focuses mainly on their thoughts, or who focuses mainly on their feelings? 

The C-NIP summarizes any strong preferences that clients might have on four dimensions of therapist style:​

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• Therapist directiveness vs Client directiveness

• Emotional intensity vs Emotional reserve

• Past orientation vs Present orientation

• Warm Support vs Focused challenge

In addition, clients are asked open-ended questions about other therapy preferences they may have: for instance, the number of therapy sessions they would prefer.

Typically, clients will be asked by their therapist to complete the questions in an initial assessment/intake session. However, individuals may also be interested to complete the questionnaire before starting therapy and/or at regular intervals during the ongoing therapeutic work (e.g., review points). 

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The C-NIP has been translated into nine language (see available translations below), with an estimated 10,000 clients having used this measure since its inception in 2015. Our initial research suggests that clients rate the C-NIP as a helpful tool in their therapeutic journey. 

If you are completing this questionnaire for yourself (online or on a downloaded form), please ensure that you have someone whom you can talk to, should the items cause any distress. In the unlikely event that you are distressed after completing the questionnaire, you can contact the Samaritans or other mental health helplines. 

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Please be aware that the responses to this questionnaire are intended as a starting point for discussing therapeutic approaches; and that individual psychotherapists and counsellors will vary in how able, and willing, they are to respond to clients' preferences.

Further scientific information on the development of the C-NIP can be found here. A subsequent study, published here, has examined the relationship between laypersons' and mental health professionals' preferences on the C-NIP. We have also examined the relationship between C-NIP scores and outcomes across a range of therapies, see here. Our latest publication on the C-NIP combines data from nine countries and over 10,000 respondents to assess the tool's psychometric properties and feasibility for use (see here).     

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If you would like to discuss any aspect of the C-NIP, this online tool, or the research, please contact Mick Cooper at mick.cooper@roehampton.ac.uk

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Complete guidelines on the C-NIP are available to download here

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The C-NIP is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This means that you can use the measure freely in your own practice, research, or supervision without further permission, provided that the measure is not adapted in any way. However, if you wish to use the measure as part of a commercial operation (e.g., a therapy referral service), in which the C-NIP forms an integral part of the service delivery, please contact the authors to discuss licensing arrangements.  

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