Psychologists' and patients' views on empathy in teletherapy: A mixed-methods study

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Teletherapy Research

Background:

• Empathy is crucial for effective psychotherapy.
• Understanding empathy in teletherapy is limited despite its growing use.
• This study investigates the perspectives of psychologists and patients on teletherapy empathy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare how psychologists and patients experience and communicate empathy in teletherapy.
• To identify differences and similarities in their perceptions of empathic communication.
• To explore factors influencing empathy in the teletherapy setting.

Main Methods:

• Convergent mixed-methods design utilizing online questionnaires and open-ended questions.
• Samples included 92 psychologists and 80 adult patients.
• Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using a joint display approach.

Main Results:

• Patients reported significantly higher levels of experienced empathy than psychologists reported feeling.
• Psychologists found videoconference therapy more demanding due to technical issues and unfamiliarity.
• Both groups agreed on the definition and communication strategies for empathy in teletherapy, with patients emphasizing telepresence and alliance to compensate for modality limitations.

Conclusions:

• Patients consistently rated psychologists as more empathic than psychologists rated themselves in teletherapy.
• Findings underscore the value of teletherapy and the need for clinician support, especially for those new to the modality.
• Tailored training and support can enhance psychologists' empathic communication skills in teletherapy, focusing on nonverbal cues, feedback, and attunement to patient expectations.