https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2023.632
Psychotherapists’ experiences of telepsychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina: impact on therapy setting, therapeutic relationship and burden
Submitted: May 3, 2022
Accepted: January 20, 2023
Published: February 3, 2023
Accepted: January 20, 2023
Abstract Views: 1556
PDF: 436
Appendices: 147
HTML: 24
Appendices: 147
HTML: 24
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
In order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Argentina, quarantine and distancing measures were adopted. This has led to a large increase in the use of online psychotherapy. Several international studies have already examined the transition from face-to-face therapy to telepsychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic from a therapist perspective, but within these studies, the Latin American context is not represented. To fill this research gap, this qualitative study explored the Argentinean psychotherapists' experiences with online psychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic by means of in-depth interviews and content analysis. Based on the international literature, an interview guideline was created which covered three main topics: setting, therapeutic relationship, and burden among therapists. For the analysis of the therapists’ answers, a detailed codebook was developed. Effects were identified in all three areas investigated. The nine interviewed psychotherapists described unfavorable therapy conditions which affected the therapeutic setting, the psychotherapeutic methods and contents. Positive effects in the therapeutic relationship included patients being more open, but also negative effects such as discontinuation of therapies were reported. Therapists experienced telepsychotherapy as more exhausting than in-person psychotherapy, but they considered it a valuable tool during the pandemic, and the transition an enriching experience. These results, which are partially consistent with international findings, have practical implications for the practice of telepsychotherapy in Argentina. Technical conditions should be improved and patients’ privacy during the session should be ensured. Treatment techniques and diagnostics need to be adapted for their use in telepsychotherapy.
Aafjes-van Doorn, K., Békés, V., & Prout, T. A. (2020a). Grappling with our therapeutic relationship and professional self-doubt during COVID-19: Will we use video therapy again? Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2020.1773404
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070.2020.1773404
Aafjes-van Doorn, K., Békés, V., Prout, T. A., & Hoffman, L. (2020b). Psychotherapists' vicarious traumatization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 12(S1), 148-150. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000868
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000868
Appleton, R., Williams, J., Vera San Juan, N,, Needle, J., Schlief, M., Jordan, H., Sheridan Rains, L., Goulding, L., Badhan, M., Roxburgh, E., Barnett, P., Spyridonidis, S., Tomaskova, M., Mo, J., Harju-Seppänen, J., Haime, Z., Casetta, C., Papamichail, A., Lloyd-Evans, B., Simpson, A., Sevdalis, N., Gaughran, F., & Johnson, S. (2021). Implementation, adoption, and perceptions of telemental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: systematic review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(12):e31746. doi: 10.2196/31746
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/31746
Békés, V., & Aafjes-van Doorn, K. (2020). Psychotherapists' attitudes toward online therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 30(2), 238-247. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000214
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000214
Benish, S. G., Quintana, S., & Wampold, B. E. (2011). Culturally adapted psychotherapy and the legitimacy of myth: A direct-comparison meta-analysis. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 58(3), 279-289. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023626
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023626
Bohlken, J., Schömig, F., Lemke, M. R., Pumberger, M., & Riedel-Heller, S. G. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic: stress experiences of healthcare workers TT - [COVID-19 pandemic: stress experiences of healthcare workers - A brief current review]. Psychiat Prax, 47(4), 190-197. https://dx.doi.org/10.1055/a-1159-5551
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1159-5551
Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina. (2021). Aislamiento social, preventivo y obligatorio. https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/227042/20200320
Bundespsychotherapeutenkammer (2020). Erfahrungen von Psychotherapeut*innen in der Coronakrise Experiences of psychotherapists* in the corona crisis. https://www.bptk.de/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/BPtK-Reader_Corona-Pandemie_Erfahrungsberichte-aus-dem-Alltag.pdf
Döring, N., & Bortz, J. (2016). Data collection. In N. Döring & J. Bortz (Eds.), Research methods and evaluation in the social and human sciences (5th ed., pp. 321-397). Springer-Verlag.
Fernández-Álvarez, J., & Fernández-Álvarez, H. (2021). Videoconferencing psychotherapy during the pandemic: exceptional times with enduring effects? Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.589536
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.589536
Flückiger, C., Del Re, A. C., Wampold, B. E., & Horvath, A. O. (2018). The alliance in adult psychotherapy: A meta-analytic synthesis. Psychotherapy, 55(4), 316-340. https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000172
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pst0000172
Fontao, M. I., Casari, L. M., Piorno, N., & Taborda, A. R. (2022). Psicoterapia en tiempos de pandemia COVID-19 en Argentina: Factores asociados con el uso de telepsicoterapia durante el aislamiento social Psychotherapy in times of the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina: Factors associated with the use of telepsychotherapy during social isolation. Revista Argentina de Ciencias del Comportamiento, 14(2), 75-86.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32348/1852.4206.v14.n2.30721
Kramer, V., Papazova, I., Thoma, A., Kunz, M., Falkai, P., Schneider-Axmann, T., Hierundar, A., Wagner, E., & Hasan, A. (2020). Subjective burden and perspectives of German healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-020-01183-2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-020-01183-2
Lambert, M. J. (2013). The efficacy and effectiveness of psychotherapy. In M. J. Lambert (Ed.), Bergin and garfields handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change (6th ed., pp. 169-218). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
MacMullin, K., Jerry, P., & Cook, K. (2020). Psychotherapist experiences with telepsychotherapy: Pre COVID-19 lessons for a post COVID-19 world. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 30(2), 248-264. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000213
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000213
Mayring, P. (2015). Qualitative Content Analysis: foundations and techniques (12th ed.). Beltz.
McBeath, A. G., du Plock, S., & Bager-Charleson, S. (2020). The challenges and experiences of psychotherapists working remotely during the coronavirus* pandemic. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 20(3), 394-405. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12326
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12326
Ministerio de Salud Argentina. (2022). Información epidemiológica. https://www.argentina.gob.ar/salud/coronavirus-COVID-19/sala-situacion (23.04.2022)
Olwill, C., Mc Nally, D., & Douglas, L. (2020). Psychiatrist experience of remote consultations by telephone in an outpatient psychiatric department during the Covid-19 pandemic. Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2020.51
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/ipm.2020.51
Shklarski, L., Abrams, A., & Bakst, E. (2021). Navigating changes in the physical and psychological spaces of psychotherapists during Covid-19: When home becomes the office. Practice Innovations, 6(1), 55-66. https://doi.org/10.1037/pri0000138
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/pri0000138
Torrente, F., Yoris, A., Low, D. M., Lopez, P., Bekinschtein, P., Manes, F., & Cetkovich, M. (2021). Sooner than you think: A very early affective reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine in Argentina. Journal of Affective Disorders, 282, 495-503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.124
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.12.124
Vindegaard, N., & Benros, M. E. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic and mental health consequences: Systematic review of the current evidence. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 89, 531-542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.048
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2020.05.048
Wang, Y., Kala, M. P., & Jafar, T. H. (2020). Factors associated with psychological distress during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the predominantly general population: A systematic review and metaanalysis. PLOS ONE, 15(12), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244630
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244630
Wöller, W., & Kruse, J. (2018). Where does the "mother science" of psychoanalysis stand? In W. Wöller & J. Kruse (Eds.), Depth psychology-based psychotherapy: basic book and practice guide (5th ed., pp. 18-31). Schattauer.
How to Cite
König, V. L., Fontao, M. I., Casari, L. M., & Taborda, A. R. (2023). Psychotherapists’ experiences of telepsychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina: impact on therapy setting, therapeutic relationship and burden. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.4081/ripppo.2023.632
Copyright (c) 2023 the Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
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
- Diego Rocco, Alessandro Gennaro, Francesco De Bei, Diego Zanelli, Valeria Condino, Development and Characteristics of the Therapeutic Alliance in a Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy: A Descriptive Case Study , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 16 No. 1 (2013)
- Rossella Lo Verde, Diego Sarracino, Marta Vigorelli, Therapeutic Cycles and Referential Activity in the Analysis of the Therapeutic Process , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 15 No. 1 (2012)
- Francesco Gazzillo, Adriano Schimmenti, Ivan Formica, Alessandra Simonelli, Sergio Salvatore, Effectiveness is the gold standard of clinical research , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 20 No. 2 (2017)
- Diego Rocco, Silvia Salcuni, Elena Antonelli, A pilot study of the Italian adaptation of the Session Evaluation Questionnaire fourth version , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 20 No. 2 (2017)
- Alexandro Fortunato, Annalisa Tanzilli, Vittorio Lingiardi, Anna Maria Speranza, Psychodiagnostic Chart-Child (PDC-C): a valid and clinically sensitive diagnostic tool for patient-tailored intervention planning , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 25 No. 1 (2022)
- Vera Regina Rohnelt Ramires, Cibele Carvalho, Fernanda Munhoz Driemeier Schmidt, Guilherme Pacheco Fiorini, Geoff Goodman, Interaction structures in the psychodynamic therapy of a boy diagnosed with Asperger’s disorder: a single-case study , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 18 No. 2 (2015): Special issue on Qualitative and Quantitative Research in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy: part 1
- Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe, Tracy A. Prout, Lauren Ammar, Thomas Kui, Ciro Conversano, Assessing children’s defense mechanisms with the Defense Mechanisms Rating Scales Q-sort for Children , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 24 No. 3 (2021)
- Annalisa Tanzilli, Michele Majorana, Laura Fonzi, Mauro Pallagrosi, Angelo Picardi, Maria Antonietta Coccanari de’ Fornari, Massimo Biondi, Vittorio Lingiardi, Relational variables in short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy: an effectiveness study , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 21 No. 3 (2018)
- Irene Messina, Pietro Spataro, Alessandro Grecucci, Danielle M. Moskow, Cristina Marogna, Stefan G. Hofmann, Interpersonal emotion regulation questionnaire: psychometric properties of the Italian version and associations with psychopathology , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 25 No. 2 (2022)
- Giorgio Gabriele Alberti, Anna Martorano, Bruno Martorano, The Competing Influences of Initial Depressive Symptomatology and Early Alliance on Early Outcome: A Preliminary Study , Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome: Vol. 16 No. 2 (2013)
<< < 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 > >>
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
