Youth and Parent Experiences of the Therapeutic Alliance in Virtual Group Therapy

Abstract

Virtual group therapy confers important and distinctive advantages that mitigate the barriers that youth and parents face when obtaining mental health services. Nevertheless, aspects of virtual environments present challenges for therapists and group members when cultivating robust therapeutic alliances that predict effective treatment outcomes. The present study explored youth and parent clients’ experiences of the therapeutic alliance in virtual group therapy. Qualitative interview data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Interviews were conducted with six youths and six parents (n = 12) who received virtual group services from a mental health and addictions agency in Eastern Ontario. Thematic analysis suggests that clients engaging in virtual group therapy services were able to from robust therapeutic relationships with other group members, their group therapists, and the group as a collective, despite the unique challenges of the virtual environment. The current study implies that virtual group therapy can be a viable treatment option for Canadian youth with substance use issues or parents of a children with substance use issues.