title: How technology influences the therapeutic process: evaluation of the patient-therapist relationship in augmented reality exposure therapy and in vivo exposure therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  New technologies have slowly become a part of psychologists' therapeutic office. However, many therapists still have doubts about the possibility of creating a good therapeutic relationship with patients in the presence of technology.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates the development of the therapeutic alliance in individuals with small animal phobia disorder who were treated with Augmented Reality Exposure Therapy or In Vivo Exposure Therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two participants received an intensive session of cognitive behavioural therapy in either a technology-mediated therapeutic context or in a traditional therapeutic context.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results show no significant difference for the therapeutic alliance between two conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results seem to show that technologies such as Augmented Reality do not represent a danger to negatively influence the therapeutic alliance.
authors: Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain. mwrzesien@labhuman.i3bh.es
authors: Maja
authors: M
authors: Wrzesien
authors: Juana
authors: J
authors: Bretón-López
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Botella
authors: Jean-Marie
authors: JM
authors: Burkhardt
authors: Mariano
authors: M
authors: Alcañiz
authors: María Ángeles
authors: MÁ
authors: Pérez-Ara
authors: Antonio Riera
authors: AR
authors: Del Amo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007171:Implosive Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011936:Reality Testing; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D055815:Young Adult