Therapeutic presence, working alliance, and clients’ attitudes toward online therapy

Abstract

The pandemic forced changes that had to be implemented quickly. One of them was the shift from face-to-face to online psychological counseling. When this change occurred, many clients, psychologists, and psychotherapists were not prepared for it and did not intend to make it. The present study aims to understand clients’ perspectives on the online (a) therapeutic presence and (b) working alliance as well as (c) clients’ attitudes toward online therapy and, finally, (d) the influence of clients’ previous experience with online therapy on their attitudes toward it. The sample consisted of 225 participants (117 therapists and 108 clients) aged between 18 and 75 years. Data collection took place entirely online. The results showed high values for the instruments of therapeutic presence and working alliance from both therapists’ and clients’ perspectives. Clients’ attitudes toward online interventions were neutral. Previous experience was not found to have a significant effect on attitudes, therapeutic presence, or working alliance. However, clients’ attitudes toward online interventions were associated with therapeutic presence and working alliance (clients’ perspective) and correlated with therapeutic presence (therapists’ perspective). Clients’ attitudes toward online therapy are an important aspect of the online therapeutic process and should be assessed and considered before the start of this process.