https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2021.514
Psychotherapists’ perception of their clinical skills and in-session feelings in live therapy versus online therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot study
Submitted: December 17, 2020
Accepted: March 7, 2021
Published: April 15, 2021
Accepted: March 7, 2021
Abstract Views: 10363
PDF: 1177
HTML: 49
HTML: 49
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many psychotherapists who were used to seeing their patients in face-toface setting adapted to providing therapies online. In the present pilot study, we investigated therapist current experiences of online therapy compared to live therapy. Twenty-nine therapists completed Clinical Skills, Difficulties in Practice, and in-sessions feelings of Flow, Boredom and Anxiety of the Trainee Current Progress Report, giving a score for each item in two different conditions: Live Therapy and Online Therapy. Compared to Live Therapy, in Online Therapy therapists reported significantly less Clinical Skills, whereas Difficulties in Practice did not differ in the considered conditions. With regard to in-sessions feeling, therapists reported significantly lower scores of Boring and higher scores of Flow in Live Therapy compared to Online Therapy, whereas Anxiety did not differed in the considered conditions.
Backhaus, A., Agha, Z., Maglione, M.L., Repp, A., Ross, B., Zuest, D., Rice-Thorp, N.M., Lohr, J. & Thorp, S.R., 2012. Videoconferencing psychotherapy: a systematic review. Psychological services, 9(2), 111.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027924
Baldwin, S. A., & Imel, Z. E. (2013). Therapist effects: Findings and methods. In Lambert, M.J. (Eds.), Bergin and Garfield’s handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change, 6 (pp. 258-297). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Cipolletta, S., Frassoni, E., & Faccio, E. (2018). Construing a therapeutic relationship online: An analysis of videoconference sessions. Clinical Psychologist, 22(2), 220-229.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/cp.12117
Cipolletta, S., & Mocellin, D. (2018). Online counseling: An exploratory survey of Italian psychologists’ attitudes towards new ways of interaction. Psychotherapy Research, 28(6), 909-924.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2016.1259533
Cohen, G. E., & Kerr, B. A. (1999). Computer-mediated counseling: An empirical study of a new mental health treatment. Computers in Human Services, 15(4), 13-26.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1300/J407v15n04_02
Cook, J. E., & Doyle, C. (2002). Working alliance in online therapy as compared to face-to-face therapy: Preliminary results. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 5(2), 95-105.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/109493102753770480
de Bitencourt Machado, D., Braga Laskoski, P., Trelles Severo, C., Margareth Bassols, A., Sfoggia, A., Kowacs, C., Valle Krieger, D., Benetti Torres, M., Bento Gastaud, M., Stella Wellausen, R., & Laks Eizirik, C. (2016). A psychodynamic perspective on a systematic review of online psychotherapy for adults. British Journal of Psychotherapy, 32(1), 79-108.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/bjp.12204
Fletcher-Tomenius, L., & Vossler, A. (2009). Trust in online therapeutic relationships: The therapist’s experience. Counselling Psychology Review, 24(2), 24-34.
Heinonen, E., Knekt, P., Jääskeläinen, T., & Lindfors, O. (2014). Therapists’ professional and personal characteristics as predictors of outcome in long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. European Psychiatry, 29, 265-274.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2013.07.002
Heinonen, E., Lindfors, O., Laaksonen, M. A., & Knekt, P. (2012). Therapists’ professional and personal characteristics as predictors of outcome in short- and long-term psychotherapy. Journal of Affective Disorders, 138, 301-31
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2012.01.023
Klein, B., & Richards, J. C. (2001). A brief Internet-based treatment for panic disorder. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 29(1), 113.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465801001138
LaFleur, B. J., & Greevy, R. A. (2009). Introduction to permutation and resampling-based hypothesis tests. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 38(2), 286-294.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15374410902740411
Lange, A., van de Ven, J. P., Schrieken, B., & Emmelkamp, P. M. (2001). Interapy. Treatment of posttraumatic stress through the Internet: a controlled trial. Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 32(2), 73-90.
Lange, A., Ven, J. Q. V. D., Schrieken, B. A. L., Bredeweg, B., & Emmelkamp, P. M. G. (2000). Internet-mediated, protocol-driven treatment of psychological dysfunction. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 6(1), 15-21.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1258/1357633001933880
Messina, I., Gelo, O. C., Sambin, M., Bianco, F., Mosconi, A., Fenelli, A., Curto, M., Gullo, S. & Orlinsky, D. (2017). Trainees’ self‐evaluation of their development as psychotherapists: An Italian contribution to an international collaborative study on psychotherapy training. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, 25(2), 338-347.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2165
Messina, I., Gullo, S., Gelo, O. C. G., Giordano, C., & Salcuni, S. (2019). An overview of the Italian contribution to the international multisite SPRISTAD study on psychotherapy training. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process, and Outcome, 22(3).
Orlinsky, D. E., Ambühl, H., Rønnestad, M., Davis, J., Gerin, P., Davis, M., Willutzki, U., Botermans, J.F., Dazord, A., Cierpka, M., & Aapro, N. (1999). Development of psychotherapists: Concepts, questions, and methods of a collaborative international study. Psychotherapy Research, 9(2), 127-153.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/ptr/9.2.127
Orlinsky, D. E., Botermans, J. F., & Rønnestad, M. H. (2001). Towards an empirically grounded model of psychotherapy training: Four thousand therapists rate influences on their development. Australian Psychologist, 36(2), 139-148.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00050060108259646
Orlinsky, D. E., Norcross, J. C., Rønnestad, M. H., & Wiseman, H. (2005). Outcomes and impacts of psychotherapists’ personal therapy: A research review. In J. D. Geller, J. C. Norcross, & D. E. Orlinsky (Eds.), The psychotherapist’s own psychotherapy: Patient and clinician perspectives (pp. 214-230). New York: Oxford University Press.
Orlinsky, D. E., & Rønnestad, M. H. (2005). How psychotherapists develop: A study of therapeutic work and professional growth. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Orlinsky, D. E., Rønnestad, M. H., Ambühl, H., Willutzki, U., Botermans, J. F., Cierpka, M., Davis, J., & Davis, M. (1999). Psychotherapists’ assessments of their development at different career levels. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 36(3), 203.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/h0087772
Orlinsky, D. E., Rønnestad, M. H., &Willutzki, U. (2010). The SPR collaborative research program on the development of psychotherapists. In J. Norcross, (Ed.), History of psychology: A century of change, 2nd edition. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Orlinsky, D. E., Strauss, B., Rønnestad, M. H., Hill, C., Castonguay, L., Willutzki, U., & Carlsson, J. (2015). A collaborative study of development in psychotherapy trainees. Psychotherapy Bulletin, 50(4), 21-25.
Pesarin, F., & Salmaso, L. (2010). Permutation tests for complex data: theory, applications and software. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470689516
Poletti, B., Tagini, S., Brugnera, A., Parolin, L., Pievani, L., Ferrucci, R., Compare, A., & Silani, V. (2020). Telepsychotherapy: a leaflet for psychotherapists in the age of COVID-19. A review of the evidence. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 1-16.
Reynolds Jr, D. A. J., Stiles, W. B., Bailer, A. J., & Hughes, M. R. (2013). Impact of exchanges and client-therapist alliance in online-text psychotherapy. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 16(5), 370-377.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2012.0195
Rochlen, A. B., Zack, J. S., & Speyer, C. (2004). Online therapy: Review of relevant definitions, debates, and current empirical support. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 60(3), 269-283.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.10263
Rønnestad, M. H., & Orlinsky, D. E. (2005). Clinical implications: Training, supervision, and practice. In D. E. Orlinsky & M. H. Rønnestad, (Eds.), How psychotherapists develop (op. cit., pp. 189-192). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Rønnestad, M. H., Orlinsky, D. E., & Wiseman, H. (2016). Professional development and personal therapy. In Norcross, J.C., VandenBos, G.R., Freedheim, D. K., & Campbell, L.F. (Eds.), Handbook of clinical psychology, 5: Development the psychologist. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Rønnestad, M. H., & Skovholt, T. M. (1993). Supervision of beginning and advanced graduate students of counseling and psychotherapy. Journal of Counseling & Development, 71(4), 396-405.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.1993.tb02655.x
Rønnestad, M. H., & Skovholt, T. M. (2003). The journey of the counselor and therapist: Research findings and perspectives on professional development. Journal of Career Development, 30(1), 5-44.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/089484530303000102
Roos, J., & Werbart, A. (2013). Therapist and relationship factors influencing dropout from individual psychotherapy: A literature review. Psychotherapy Research, 23(4), 394-418.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10503307.2013.775528
Simpson, S. (2009). Psychotherapy via videoconferencing: A review. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 37(3), 271-286.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03069880902957007
Stofle, G. S. (2001). Choosing an online therapist: A step-by-step guide to finding professional help on the web. White Hat Communications. Retrieved from: provide link REMOVE THIS REFERENCE
Sucala, M., Schnur, J. B., Constantino, M. J., Miller, S. J., Brackman, E. H., & Montgomery, G. H. (2012). The therapeutic relationship in e-therapy for mental health: a systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 14(4), e110.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.2084
van der Vaart , R., Witting, M., Riper, H., Kooistra, L., Bohlmeijer, E. T., & van Gemert-Pijnen, L. J. (2014). Blending online therapy into regular face-to-face therapy for depression: content, ratio and preconditions according to patients and therapists using a Delphi study. BMC Psychiatry, 14(1), 355.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-014-0355-z
Williams, R., Bambling, M., King, R., & Abbott, Q. (2009). In‐session processes in online counselling with young people: An exploratory approach. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 9(2), 93-100.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14733140802490606
How to Cite
Messina, I., & Löffler-Stastka, H. . (2021). Psychotherapists’ perception of their clinical skills and in-session feelings in live therapy <em>versus</em> online therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot study. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 24(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2021.514
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.
Similar Articles
- Samantha Reis, Emily L. Matthews, Brin F.S. Grenyer, Characteristics of effective online interventions: implications for adolescents with personality disorder during a global pandemic , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 23 No. 3 (2020)
- Cecilia Giordano, Ivan Ambrosiano , Maria Teresa Graffeo, Alessandro Di Caro, Salvatore Gullo, The transition to online psychotherapy during the pandemic: a qualitative study on patients’ perspectives , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 25 No. 3 (2022): SPECIAL ISSUE: "Group psychotherapy: between settled benchmarks and new horizons"
- Laura Bonalume, Laura Corbelli, Mattia Ferro, Anna Lisa Mazzoleni, Maria Pia Roggero , Developing a prototype for relationship therapy psychoanalysis: an empirical study with the Psychotherapy Process Q-set , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 26 No. 1 (2023)
- Gaia Albano, Arianna Teti, Arianna Scrò, Rubinia Celeste Bonfanti, Lucia Fortunato, Gianluca Lo Coco, A systematic review on the role of therapist characteristics in the treatment of eating disorders , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 27 No. 2 (2024)
- Racheli Miller, Mark J. Hilsenroth, Paul L. Hewitt, Perfectionism and therapeutic alliance: a review of the clinical research , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 20 No. 1 (2017)
- Hubert de Condé, Emmanuelle Zech, Jochem Willemsen, The person behind the therapist: a recall study on significant events that contribute to therapists’ personal and professional development , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 27 No. 2 (2024)
- Lucia Nuñez, Sofía Fernández, Nicolle Alamo, Nick Midgley, Claudia Capella, Mariane Krause, The therapeutic relationship and change processes in child psychotherapy: a qualitative, longitudinal study of the views of children, parents and therapists , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 25 No. 1 (2022)
- Claudia Capella, Loreto Rodríguez, Estrella Azócar, Ximena Lama, Lucía Núñez, Daniela Águila, Camila Gomez, Macarena Espeleta, Vania Vasquez, Psychotherapeutic change in children and adolescents who have been sexually abused: a model from participants’ perspectives , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 25 No. 1 (2022)
- Giorgia Margherita, Benedetta Muzii, Alessia Caffieri, Adriana Di Francia, Brenda Somma, ‘Isolated together’: online group treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic review , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 25 No. 3 (2022): SPECIAL ISSUE: "Group psychotherapy: between settled benchmarks and new horizons"
- Meltem Yilmaz, Kutlu Kağan Türkarslan, Ludovica Zanini, Dilara Hasdemir, Grazia Fernanda Spitoni, Vittorio Lingiardi, Transference interpretation and psychotherapy outcome: a systematic review of a no-consensus relationship , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 27 No. 1 (2024)
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
