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Enhancing Clinical Skills in Online Therapy: Insights from Recent Research

Enhancing Clinical Skills in Online Therapy: Insights from Recent Research
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many psychotherapists had to transition from traditional face-to-face therapy to online therapy. This shift raised questions about the effectiveness of online therapy and its impact on therapists' clinical skills and in-session feelings. A recent pilot study titled "Psychotherapists’ perception of their clinical skills and in-session feelings in live therapy versus online therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic" offers valuable insights that can help practitioners improve their skills in online therapy settings.

Key Findings from the Study

The study, conducted by Messina and Loffler-Stastka (2021), involved 29 therapists who compared their experiences in live therapy and online therapy. The researchers focused on three main dimensions:

Clinical Skills

Therapists reported significantly higher scores of clinical skills in live therapy compared to online therapy. This included aspects such as: These findings suggest that therapists feel more competent and effective in live therapy settings.

In-Session Feelings

The study also found differences in therapists' in-session feelings. In live therapy, therapists experienced more flow-related feelings and less boredom compared to online therapy. However, there were no significant differences in feelings of anxiety between the two settings.

Implications for Practitioners

The findings highlight the need for therapists to adapt their skills to online therapy settings. Here are some practical steps that can help:

Encouraging Further Research

While this pilot study provides valuable insights, more research is needed to fully understand the nuances of online therapy. Practitioners are encouraged to contribute to ongoing research efforts by sharing their experiences and participating in studies focused on online therapy. To read the original research paper, please follow this Psychotherapists’ perception of their clinical skills and in-session feelings in live therapy versus online therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot study.

Citation: Messina, I., & Loffler-Stastka, H. (2021). Psychotherapists’ perception of their clinical skills and in-session feelings in live therapy versus online therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic: a pilot study. Research in Psychotherapy: Psychopathology, Process and Outcome, 24(1), 53-59. doi: 10.4081/ripppo.2021.514
Marnee Brick, President, TinyEYE Therapy Services

Author's Note: Marnee Brick, TinyEYE President, and her team collaborate to create our blogs. They share their insights and expertise in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Online Therapy Services and Academic Research.

Connect with Marnee on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest in Speech-Language Pathology and Online Therapy Services.

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