In-person vs Synchronous Virtual Provider Workshops for Evidence-Based Therapies for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

In response to the novel coronavirus (COVID19), many mental health provider trainings for evidence-based therapies (EBTs) shifted to virtual rather than in-person formats. The purpose of this paper is to compare workshops in EBTs for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that were formerly conducted in person to workshops conducted virtually during the pandemic. Providers reported similar ratings for learning objective achievements between in-person and virtual trainings. Providers and trainers reported facilitators and barriers to learning in virtual training and provided recommendations for virtual trainings. Both provider participants and trainers identified a loss of networking opportunities as the primary drawback of virtual training.

Introduction by our Special Editors

The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything about our lives, including how we work, how we learn, and how we teach and train. We were all forced to rapidly alter our pedagogical approaches, adapting or making wholesale changes to teach in online and virtual formats. We created new spaces for classrooms overnight while learners also adjusted and learned how to learn in new ways. Although virtual education is not new and we have regularly benefited from webinars, online trainings, and telehealth, the pandemic made virtual learning and teaching the only viable, safe approach during 2020-21. This immediate, required shift forced us all to innovate and rise to the challenge, as we know necessity drives invention. Through this work we have learned so much and found new ways that we can apply, when beneficial, to a post-pandemic world. The authors in this two-part special issue have shared their experiences with us so that we do not forget the immense effort and reward that has come from this unique, shared challenge to our work.