P - Professional and Warm Rapport

Some studies have shown that therapists vary greatly in how much they change patients' expectations during their first psychotherapy sessions (Ahmed et al., 2012; Bowker et al., 2025). In many cases, the initial assessment therapist is the first therapist with whom patients come into contact. But how does the ideal therapist interact?

Warm

Warm behaviour of the therapist is associated with improved therapeutic alliance and outcome expectations (Howe et al., 2019; Seewald & Rief, 2023b, 2023a).

Professional

Professional behaviour of the therapist is associated with improved therapeutic alliance and outcome expectations (Howe et al., 2019; Seewald & Rief, 2023b, 2023a).