ABSTRACT
ObjectiveThe present study explored the experiences of service users of Adult Mental Health and Primary Care services in Ireland in receiving teletherapy during the COVID‐19 pandemic to provide an illustration of these experiences which may inform future applications of teletherapy.MethodSemi‐structured telephone interviews about participants' experiences with teletherapy were conducted, the transcripts of which were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsSix themes were generated: Early Apprehensions, Adaptations Improving Experiences, The Therapeutic Space, Seeing and Being Seen, Technical Difficulties: The Loss of "The Moment,” and The Security of a Pre‐Existing Relationship.ConclusionGenerated themes highlight both the range of experiences that clients can have during teletherapy, and some of the most significant factors which influence these experiences. The quality and effectiveness of teletherapy are often susceptible to factors outside of therapists' and clients' control. In most cases, it may be best considered as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, traditional in‐person services.
ABSTRACT
Objective Method Results Conclusion The present study explored the experiences of service users of Adult Mental Health and Primary Care services in Ireland in receiving teletherapy during the COVID‐19 pandemic to provide an illustration of these experiences which may inform future applications of teletherapy.Semi‐structured telephone interviews about participants' experiences with teletherapy were conducted, the transcripts of which were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.Six themes were generated: Early Apprehensions, Adaptations Improving Experiences, The Therapeutic Space, Seeing and Being Seen, Technical Difficulties: The Loss of “The Moment,” and The Security of a Pre‐Existing Relationship.Generated themes highlight both the range of experiences that clients can have during teletherapy, and some of the most significant factors which influence these experiences. The quality and effectiveness of teletherapy are often susceptible to factors outside of therapists' and clients' control. In most cases, it may be best considered as a supplement to, rather than a replacement for, traditional in‐person services. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Counselling & Psychotherapy Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)
ABSTRACT
Objective Method Results Conclusions The current qualitative study aimed to investigate psychologists' experiences of teletherapy throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic, with a particular focus on teletherapy's impact on therapeutic relationships.Fifteen participants, consisting of clinical and counselling psychologists employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland, participated in semi‐structured interviews conducted via telephone.Constructionist thematic analysis yielded three prominent themes: (i) psychologists experienced a lack of control over therapeutic boundaries with their clients, such as the setting and time in which sessions take place. Teletherapy also encroaches on psychologists' personal boundaries from having aspects of their home lives becoming associated with clients' trauma;(ii) psychologists have to work much harder to make the connection with clients due to the substantial loss of information, including non‐verbal cues, transmitted across teletherapeutic platforms;and (iii) psychologists themselves feel uncontained from being insufficiently supported by the HSE, which impacts on their ability to contain high‐risk clients via teletherapy.Various aspects of the therapeutic relationship, including therapeutic boundaries between psychologists and their clients, and psychologists' ability to make the connection and foster containment with their clients, were impacted by teletherapy. Psychologists need to feel heard, supported and appreciated to ensure optimal delivery of teletherapy in future. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Counselling & Psychotherapy Research is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)