Beyond CBT: How Effective Are Alternative Digital Psychological Therapies?
Master's Thesis Project — Literature Review (14 EC)
Digital psychological interventions have become an important part of mental health care. Most are based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which has demonstrated effectiveness in treating a wide range of psychological complaints. However, CBT is not the only therapeutic approach that can be delivered online.
Other approaches, including mindfulness- and acceptance-based therapies, positive psychology interventions, and humanistic therapies, place greater emphasis on psychological processes such as acceptance, meaning, self-compassion, and well-being. We refer to these approaches collectively as growth-enhancing therapies (GET). Given these therapies differ in their theoretical foundations, they may offer valuable alternatives to conventional CBT.
But how effective are these alternatives? Can they achieve similar reductions in psychological symptoms? And do they offer additional benefits for psychological well-being?
About the project
This thesis is embedded in an ongoing, preregistered systematic review and meta-analysis comparing remotely delivered CBT with growth-enhancing therapies (please see: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251172689). You will contribute to an international body of research by helping to identify recent clinical trials and critically evaluating the methodological quality of published studies.
You will learn to apply established methods for systematic literature searching, study selection, data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment (Cochrane RoB 2). These skills are valuable both in academic research and in evidence-based clinical practice.
Your own research
Within the broader project, you will develop a focused research question reflecting your interests. Possible directions include:
- Examining the methodological quality of studies comparing CBT and GET, and identifying common limitations in the evidence.
- Investigating which alternative therapeutic approaches have been directly compared with CBT and in which clinical populations.
- Exploring how psychological well-being is measured in clinical trials and whether the available evidence adequately captures outcomes beyond symptom reduction.
The precise research question and scope will be determined together, taking into account the available evidence. A separate meta-analysis is not required.
Who are we looking for?
We welcome students interested in clinical psychology, digital mental health, and evidence-based practice. This project is particularly suitable for students who enjoy critically evaluating research and want to understand not only whether psychological treatments work, but also how confidently we can interpret the scientific evidence.
You will work within an active research project, receive guidance in systematic review methodology, and have the opportunity to develop your own perspective on an important question in contemporary psychological treatment.