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Empathy, working alliance, treatment expectancy and credibility in video and face-to-face psychotherapeutic first contact.
- Source :
-
Psychotherapy Research . Jun2024, Vol. 34 Issue 5, p626-637. 12p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Objective Video-based therapy has been used increasingly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, video-based initial psychotherapeutic contact can be problematic due to the limitations of computer-mediated communication. At present, little is known about the effects of video first contact on important psychotherapeutic processes. Method: Forty-three individuals (nvideo = 18, nface-to-face = 25) were recruited via an outpatient clinic waiting list and were randomly assigned to video or face-to-face initial psychotherapeutic sessions. Participants rated treatment expectancy before and after the session, and the therapist's empathy, working alliance, and credibility after the session and several days later. Results: Empathy and working alliance ratings of patients and therapists were high and did not differ between the two communication conditions after the appointment or at follow-up. Treatment expectancy increased to a similar extent for the video and face-to-face modalities from pre to post. Willingness to continue with video-based therapy increased in participants who had video contact, but not in those with face-to-face contact. Conclusion: This study indicates that crucial processes related to the therapeutic relationship can be initiated via video, without prior face-to-face contact. Given the limited nonverbal communication cues in video appointments, it remains unclear as to how such processes evolve. Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register identifier: DRKS00031262.. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 10503307
- Volume :
- 34
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Psychotherapy Research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 177179196
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2023.2233685