In-person therapy vs. computer-mediated therapy for college students: Single session outcomes and implications for the patient-therapist relationship

Abstract Objective This study focused on college students to examine if the communication channel of their most recent therapy session influenced the strength of their relationship with their therapist, post-session symptoms of anxiety and depression, and their intentions to adhere to therapist recommendations. Participants 688 college students from a large Californian university. Methods The online survey took place on the Qualtrics survey platform and the proposed model was tested using structural equation modeling. Results College students’ emotional self-disclosure was higher in mediated compared to in-person therapy sessions. Their perceived social presence from the therapist was greater in mediated compared to in-person sessions. Emotional self-disclosure and social presence were positive predictors of the patient-therapist relational bond strength, which subsequently predicted adherence and was associated with reduced post-session depression and anxiety levels. Conclusions A strong relational bond between patient and therapist is possible in both online and offline environments for college students.