Changes in nonverbal behavior of therapists and depressed patients during cognitive therapy.

Nonverbal behavior of 8 patients and 7 therapists during the first few minutes of 20 therapeutic sessions (either 2 or 3 per therapist-patient pair) was used as a baseline measure to assess whether there were systematic changes by the end of a single therapeutic session. The nonverbal behavior of both patients and therapists showed increases in prosocial behavior. Also, increases in signs of anxiety were noted in the nonverbal behavior of therapists. Significant correlations between nonverbal behavior of patients and therapists occurred for certain classes of behavior. It appears worthwhile to assess changes in nonverbal behavior during therapeutic sessions.