"There is Just a Different Energy": Changes in the Therapeutic Relationship with the Telehealth Transition.
Clin Soc Work J
; 50(3): 325-336, 2022.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1813728
ABSTRACT
The therapeutic relationship (TR), including its therapeutic frame, is the foundation of the therapeutic endeavor. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid transition to videoconferencing for therapeutic encounters, we employed a cross-sectional exploratory survey with 1490 respondents to understand how practitioners adapted to the changes. In this secondary analysis focused on the TR, we analyze the clinicians' (N = 448) spontaneous narratives about facets of the TR. Temporally, we focused on how these adaptations occurred during the initial part of the pandemic before vaccination was available and while the TR was still adapting to teletherapy videoconferencing under the duress of pandemic crises. We find three broad themes (1) It is a "much more remote relationship"; (2) The "connection
remains surprisingly strong"; and (3) It is "energetically taxing." Each reflects clinicians' views of the TR as altered, but surprisingly resilient. Although grateful for the safety of virtual therapeutic encounters, clinicians mourned the loss of an embodied encounter, experienced depletion of energy beyond Zoom fatigue, and nonetheless recognized their clients' and their own abilities to adapt.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Vaccines
Language:
English
Journal:
Clin Soc Work J
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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