The Moderating Role of Professional Experience in the Relationship Between Therapeutic Alliance and Therapist Self-Efficacy in Online and Face-to-Face Psychotherapy

This study examined the relationship between therapeutic alliance and therapist self-efficacy in online and face-to-face psychotherapy and tested whether professional experience moderated this relationship. A quantitative correlational research design was used. The sample consisted of 214 mental health professionals actively providing psychotherapy services in Türkiye. Data were collected using the Working Alliance Inventory, the Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scales, and a demographic information form. Pearson correlation analysis, independent samples t-test, and moderation analysis using PROCESS Macro were conducted. The findings indicated a positive and significant relationship between therapist self-efficacy and therapeutic alliance (r = .64, p < .001). Professional experience was also positively associated with therapeutic alliance and significantly moderated the relationship between therapist self-efficacy and therapeutic alliance (β = .18, p = .003). In addition, therapeutic alliance scores were significantly higher in face-to-face psychotherapy than in online psychotherapy. The findings suggest that therapist self-efficacy and professional experience are important contributors to the quality of therapeutic alliance, particularly in digital psychotherapy contexts where clinical competence must be combined with effective online communication skills.