How do users of a mental health app conceptualise digital therapeutic alliance? A qualitative study using the framework approach.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Self-guided mental health smartphone applications (apps) have the potential to increase access to evidence-based psychological interventions and reduce the burden on staff resources in strained mental health services. Within human-delivered therapy, the working relationship (therapeutic alliance) between the client and therapist is well studied and has been consistently linked to effective and engaging therapy. However, less is known about whether a digital therapeutic alliance exists, what its components may be, and how it can be fostered to improve engagement and adherence to smartphone applications. This study explored the experiences of users of a mental health app to better understand digital therapeutic alliance and how persuasive systems design may help us underst

SUBMITTER: Taylor T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12257784 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature