The Therapeutic Relationship in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders affect 1 in 7 Australians, but many who try therapy don’t respond to treatment. This project explores how relationships in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders relate to treatment effectiveness. It examines how a client’s relationship with their therapist, and with other clients in group therapy, associates with changes in symptoms. Results show that clients who share strong bonds with other group members tend to do better in treatment, but that a very close relationship with the therapist may not always be helpful. These findings inform how existing therapies can be improved for people with anxiety disorders.