--- title: "PPRNet Clinical summary: Are Therapists Less Skillful in Teletherapy Than In-Person Therapy?" description: The director of the Psychotherapy Practice Research Network (PPRNet) is Dr. Giorgio Tasca. Dr. Tasca is an Associate Professor with the School of Psychology, in the Faculty of Social, University of Ottawa. His research focus is on psychotherapy process, mechanisms of change, and outcomes, as well as eating disorders. image: https://collabzium.com/hubfs/iStock-1206150255-1.jpg --- [![FAC_SOCIAL_SCIENCE_HEADER_BAR](https://collabzium.com/hubfs/FAC_SOCIAL_SCIENCE_HEADER_BAR.svg "FAC_SOCIAL_SCIENCE_HEADER_BAR")](https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-social-sciences/) [![Collabzium](https://collabzium.com/hubfs/CollabziumLogoEnglish(Name)-COLOUR.svg "Collabzium")](https://collabzium.com/) - Articles - [Collabzium Guide](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/author/collabzium-guide) - [All articles](https://collabzium.com/en/articles) - Research - [Chairs and Labs](https://collabzium.com/en/chair-and-labs) - [About](https://collabzium.com/collabcrew) [Subscribe](https://20500402.hubspotpagebuilder.com/subscribe-now) [Subscribe](https://20500402.hubspotpagebuilder.com/subscribe-now) [PPRNET](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/tag/pprnet) # PPRNet Clinical summary: Are Therapists Less Skillful in Teletherapy Than In-Person Therapy? [Dr. Giorgio Tasca](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/author/dr-giorgio-tasca) calendar icon Jun 04, 2025 · Reading time 2 min read [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/clinical-summary-which-patients-benefit-most-from-being-matched-to-a-therapist-0-3-1-0-1-2-0-0-0-1-1-2-1-1-0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/clinical-summary-which-patients-benefit-most-from-being-matched-to-a-therapist-0-3-1-0-1-2-0-0-0-1-1-2-1-1-0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/clinical-summary-which-patients-benefit-most-from-being-matched-to-a-therapist-0-3-1-0-1-2-0-0-0-1-1-2-1-1-0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/clinical-summary-which-patients-benefit-most-from-being-matched-to-a-therapist-0-3-1-0-1-2-0-0-0-1-1-2-1-1-0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) There is sufficient evidence that providing psychotherapy by videoconferencing is likely[as effective](https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fcps0000056&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ME6X6BfF69dRthSRracMtbBgOi2NYMJSO5epZ_kqR7-KkHBAuBIJoHTwlV_rbeoq6ywzu-mUrhy1_Tz_FzJiKWSVL0g&_hsmi=2) as therapy in person. However, many therapists feel less skillful and effective when delivering therapy virtually. This is potentially a problem since over [60%](https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/practitioner/2023-infographics/telehealth-location?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ME6X6BfF69dRthSRracMtbBgOi2NYMJSO5epZ_kqR7-KkHBAuBIJoHTwlV_rbeoq6ywzu-mUrhy1_Tz_FzJiKWSVL0g&_hsmi=2) of psychologists provide videoconferencing therapy to patients as part of their practice. However, these studies rely on therapists’ self-reporting of skills and are not based on their actual performance. Therapists are notoriously inaccurate when self-reporting their behaviours in therapy and tend to [over-](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.2466/02.07.17.PR0.110.2.639-644?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ME6X6BfF69dRthSRracMtbBgOi2NYMJSO5epZ_kqR7-KkHBAuBIJoHTwlV_rbeoq6ywzu-mUrhy1_Tz_FzJiKWSVL0g&_hsmi=2) or [under-estimate](https://doi.org/10.1017/S1754470X16000027?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ME6X6BfF69dRthSRracMtbBgOi2NYMJSO5epZ_kqR7-KkHBAuBIJoHTwlV_rbeoq6ywzu-mUrhy1_Tz_FzJiKWSVL0g&_hsmi=2) their skills. No studies have assessed therapists’ actual skill behaviours in videoconference-delivered vs. in-person therapy. In this unique study, Lin and colleagues trained 223 licensed therapists and trainees to respond to brief simulated video clips of therapy patients who present interpersonally challenging situations. The therapists were randomly assigned to (1) view a video clip scenario of an in-person therapy session, or (2) view a video scenario of a teletherapy session. After viewing one of the video scenarios, therapists’ facilitative interpersonal skills were evaluated by a performance task designed to assess their ability to respond to the difficult situation and to facilitate positive changes. Independent raters assessed the therapists’ facilitative interpersonal skills. Therapists had lower levels of observer-rated facilitative interpersonal skills in teletherapy scenarios than in-person therapy scenarios (p < 0.01). Compared to therapists in the in-person condition, therapists in the teletherapy condition had lower levels of verbal fluency, hope, persuasiveness, emotional expression, empathy, and alliance bond capacity. Researchers identified three classes of therapists from the data: (1) developing therapists (54.26%) who had somewhat lower skills in teletherapy, (2) teletherapy experts (34.98%) who had high-level skills in teletherapy, and (3) teletherapy challenged therapists (10.76%) who showed significantly lower facilitative interpersonal skills in teletherapy. These results were unrelated to age, gender, theoretical orientation, or acceptance of teletherapy.  ## Practice Implications On average, therapists are less skilled at addressing challenges in teletherapy than in in-person therapy. Differences in the two modalities may lead to a real loss of interpersonal skills among therapists. Targeted training should focus on specific skills related to working in the teletherapy modality, such as being sensitive to non-verbal cues, using different means of conveying empathy and warmth in a virtual context, and identifying and managing alliance ruptures in remote settings. > Lin, T., Aafjes-van Doorn, K., Heckman, T.G., Antebi-Lerman, E., & Anderson, T. (2025). Are therapists less skilful in teletherapy than in-person therapy scenarios? A latent profile analysis of facilitative interpersonal skills. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 32, e70047. [https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.70047.](https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.70047?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--ME6X6BfF69dRthSRracMtbBgOi2NYMJSO5epZ_kqR7-KkHBAuBIJoHTwlV_rbeoq6ywzu-mUrhy1_Tz_FzJiKWSVL0g&_hsmi=2)  calendar icon Jun 04, 2025 · Reading time 2 min read [mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/clinical-summary-which-patients-benefit-most-from-being-matched-to-a-therapist-0-3-1-0-1-2-0-0-0-1-1-2-1-1-0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/clinical-summary-which-patients-benefit-most-from-being-matched-to-a-therapist-0-3-1-0-1-2-0-0-0-1-1-2-1-1-0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/clinical-summary-which-patients-benefit-most-from-being-matched-to-a-therapist-0-3-1-0-1-2-0-0-0-1-1-2-1-1-0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://collabzium.com/en/articles/clinical-summary-which-patients-benefit-most-from-being-matched-to-a-therapist-0-3-1-0-1-2-0-0-0-1-1-2-1-1-0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) --- ### [By Dr. Giorgio Tasca](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/author/dr-giorgio-tasca) The director of the Psychotherapy Practice Research Network (PPRNet) is Dr. Giorgio Tasca. Dr. Tasca is an Associate Professor with the School of Psychology, in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Ottawa. His research is centered around psychotherapy process, mechanisms of change, and outcomes, as well as eating disorders. ## Also Read - [PPRNet Clinical summary: Long-Term Effects of Psychotherapies for Depression](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-long-term-effects-of-psychotherapies-for-depression) - [PPRNet Clinical summary: Self-Compassion as a Protective Factor Against Burnout in Psychologists](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-self-compassion-as-a-protective-factor-against-burnout-in-psychologists) - [PPRNet Clinical summary: The Therapeutic Alliance in Internet-Based Interventions](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-1.-the-therapeutic-alliance-in-internet-based-interventions) - [PPRNet Clinical summary: What Do Individuals With Borderline Personalities Want From Treatment?](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-what-do-individuals-with-borderline-personalities-want-from-treatment) #### RELATED NEWS ![PPRNet Clinical summary: Therapists’ Professional Self-Doubt](https://collabzium.com/hs-fs/hubfs/iStock-1206150255-1.jpg?width=600&name=iStock-1206150255-1.jpg) [PPRNET](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/tag/pprnet) ## [PPRNet Clinical summary: Therapists’ Professional Self-Doubt](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/pprnet-clinical-summary-therapists-professional-self-doubt) About 6% of patient outcomes can be attributed to [therapist factors](https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2021-81510-009?utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_tjqzkXhzyzZRlo56a3fM2ElMke0vbfkdleTk6CHUV0TU2UE8JY0gk5Z_b1N904Re01sgLBfTnJsNEXmyEwiow6BG9yw&_hsmi=2) (their self-concept, coping... Aug 06, 2025Reading time 2 min read ![PPRNet Clinical summary: When and for Whom is the Therapeutic Alliance Therapeutic?](https://collabzium.com/hs-fs/hubfs/George%20Tasca-2.jpg?width=600&name=George%20Tasca-2.jpg) [PPRNET](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/tag/pprnet) ## [PPRNet Clinical summary: When and for Whom is the Therapeutic Alliance Therapeutic?](https://collabzium.com/en/articles/clinical-summary-which-patients-benefit-most-from-being-matched-to-a-therapist-0-3-1-0-1-2-0-0-0-0-0) The therapeutic alliance represents the collaborative agreement between therapist and patient on... 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Sep 04, 2024Reading time 2 min read ![Collabzium Logo in White](https://collabzium.com/hubfs/Brand%20Images/Brand%20-%20Faculty%20of%20Social%20Sciences/CollabziumLogoEnglish(Icon)-WHITE.svg)   ##### CONTACT 120 University Ottawa ON K1N 6N5, Canada [Contact Us](mailto:collabz@uottawa.ca) ##### [AI CONTENT CREATION POLICY](https://collabzium.com/ai-artificial-intelligence-content-creation-policy-for-collabzium) ##### ##### SUBSCRIBE TO COLLABZIUM Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to the Collabzium email list for updates, news, and more! [SUBSCRIBE](https://20500402.hubspotpagebuilder.com/subscribe-now) --- © 2026 COLLABZIUM [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/collabzium/) [Follow us on Facebook](https://youtube.com/@Collabzium) ↑