Evaluation of therapeutic relations in asynchronous therapy via internet through Working Alliance Inventory

Abstract

The Brazilian Federal Council of Psychology has not approved Internet Therapy yet, therefore, research is recommended. The technical possibility of offering such a service and the possibility of developing a working alliance were investigated. A system of registration and brief psychotherapy, which was asynchronously carried out, was created using free software. The therapeutic relationship was analyzed by using the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI). Clients enrolled (373) were predominantly female, with median age around 28, graduate and experienced Internet users. In the 53 therapies carried out there were significant differences in the WAI results between clients who abandoned the therapy (19) and clients who finished it (29). It was possible to conduct Internet therapy, and tht therapeutic relationship presented characteristics similar to those described in the specialized bibliography about the inventory.