Support through the screen: therapeutic alliance and group cohesion processes in group videoconferencing-based psychological programs for young cancer survivors

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors face psychological, physical and developmental challenges following treatment. Videoconferencing-delivered psychological interventions offer an accessible psychological support modality, adaptable to meet AYA survivors’ unique needs. Little research has examined therapeutic interpersonal processes in online environments and whether these processes affect psychological outcomes. This study investigated the concurrence between “objective” observer and AYA group participant rated group cohesion, through secondary analysis of data from the <i>Recapture Life</i> trial (6-session videoconferencing-based group intervention for AYAs following cancer treatment). We selected three intervention groups involving eight AYA survivors for analysis, identified therapeutic processes occurrence, and used Pearson’s <i>r</i> to correlate between observer and AYA reported group cohesion. The most frequent facilitator-participant therapeutic processes were “<i>Non-judgementality”</i> and <i>“Active group engagement”</i>. AYAs reported high group cohesion and working alliance with group facilitators. Correlations between the frequency of observer-rated therapeutic processes and participants’ group cohesion and working alliance scores were non-significant, indicating no concurrence of observer-rated and participant perspectives. Supportive therapeutic interpersonal processes appear to occur during online psychosocial interventions and are readily measurable by an observer. However, the extent to which they influence group participants’ perceptions of group cohesion and therapeutic alliance remains unclear. <b>What is already known about this topic</b>: Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors value peer support but face barriers to engaging with other AYA survivors.Telehealth offers an accessible and acceptable means of facilitating psychological support with AYA cancer survivors.Use of telehealth has grown rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic, making it increasingly important to understand the efficacy of online psychological support. Adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors value peer support but face barriers to engaging with other AYA survivors. Telehealth offers an accessible and acceptable means of facilitating psychological support with AYA cancer survivors. Use of telehealth has grown rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic, making it increasingly important to understand the efficacy of online psychological support. <b>What this topic adds:</b>We provide evidence to healthcare professionals that therapeutic processes can occur in online group sessions.Group therapy has the potential to rapidly address gaps and reduce wait-times in service provision for cancer survivors.The lack of concurrence between observer-rated and participant perspectives is a phenomenon for further exploration. We provide evidence to healthcare professionals that therapeutic processes can occur in online group sessions. Group therapy has the potential to rapidly address gaps and reduce wait-times in service provision for cancer survivors. The lack of concurrence between observer-rated and participant perspectives is a phenomenon for further exploration.