Empowering Online Therapy: Lessons from Virtual Academic Conferences

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing climate crisis, the academic world has had to rethink traditional conferencing. The research article "Academic conferencing in the age of COVID-19 and climate crisis: The case of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES)" provides valuable insights that can also benefit online therapy practitioners. By examining the transition of the CIES conference to a virtual format, we can extract key strategies to enhance online therapy services.

Here are some actionable takeaways from the CIES experience that can be applied to improve online therapy:

• Embrace Technology: The CIES conference successfully utilized cloud-based software like Airtable to manage schedules and communications. Online therapy providers can similarly leverage robust platforms to streamline appointment scheduling, patient communications, and therapy sessions.
• Foster Community and Inclusivity: One of the strengths of the vCIES was its inclusivity, welcoming diverse participants and even their families and pets. Online therapy platforms should aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, perhaps by offering family therapy sessions or support groups.
• Offer Flexibility: The vCIES conference extended its timeline and offered both synchronous and asynchronous participation options. Online therapy can benefit from flexible scheduling and a variety of session formats, including pre-recorded resources and live interactions.
• Ensure Accessibility: By transitioning to a virtual format, the CIES conference became more accessible to participants from different geographical and socio-economic backgrounds. Online therapy should similarly focus on breaking down barriers to access, offering services to underserved communities and providing financial assistance or sliding scale fees.
• Prioritize Security: The vCIES had to address security concerns, such as "Zoom bombing." Online therapy platforms must prioritize patient confidentiality and data security, using encrypted communications and secure login methods.

Additionally, the vCIES experience highlighted several challenges and opportunities that are relevant to online therapy:

• Challenges: Virtual networking and mentoring can be difficult to replicate. Online therapy practitioners need to find creative ways to build rapport and trust with their clients through virtual means.
• Opportunities: The reduced carbon footprint and increased accessibility of virtual formats are significant benefits. Online therapy can capitalize on these advantages by promoting environmental sustainability and reaching a broader audience.

In conclusion, the transition of the CIES conference to a virtual format offers valuable lessons for online therapy practitioners. By embracing technology, fostering inclusivity, offering flexibility, ensuring accessibility, and prioritizing security, online therapy services can be enhanced to better serve clients in the digital age.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Academic conferencing in the age of COVID-19 and climate crisis: The case of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES).