The effects of telepsychology format on empathic accuracy and the therapeutic alliance: An analogue counselling session

ObjectiveThe primary purpose of this study was to evaluate whether psychotherapy format (videoconferencing, telephone or in-person) influenced therapist empathic accuracy and clients' perceptions of the therapeutic alliance. We also evaluated whether client attitudes towards using telepsychology influenced the therapeutic alliance in the telepsychology formats. A secondary purpose was to determine whether empathic accuracy predicted the therapeutic alliance differently across service delivery formats. MethodA randomised block design was used to assign volunteer clients (N=58) to receive one session of psychotherapy in a videoconferencing, telephonic or in-person format. Clients completed two therapeutic alliance measures and a telepsychology attitudes measure, and both therapists and clients completed an empathic accuracy measure. ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences between the conditions on therapist empathic accuracy or therapeutic alliance. Attitudes towards telepsychology and empathic accuracy were both significant predictors of alliance in the telepsychology delivery formats. Interestingly, empathic accuracy did not predict the therapeutic alliance for clients in the in-person condition. ConclusionsAlthough preliminary, the results suggest that the technology-mediated psychotherapy processes of empathic accuracy and therapeutic alliance seem to be similar to in-person psychotherapy. Empathic accuracy, however, may be a more salient process for clients who receive services in a telepsychology format. Process-focused research may highlight important distinctions in technology-mediated psychological services that inform both practice and policy.