Teletherapy has rapidly become a mainstay in the therapeutic landscape, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the transition from in-person to online therapy isn't always seamless for therapists. The recent research article titled "Mastery of teletherapy is related to better therapeutic relationship and presence in teletherapy: the development of the teletherapy intervention scale" sheds light on how therapists can enhance their teletherapy skills and foster stronger therapeutic relationships.
Key Findings from the Research
The study developed a 12-item Teletherapy Intervention Scale that measures therapists' mastery of teletherapy-specific interventions. These interventions are linked to several positive outcomes:
- Improved therapeutic alliance
- Enhanced real relationship
- Increased therapeutic presence
- More positive attitudes towards teletherapy
- Greater intention to use teletherapy in the future
Practical Tips for Therapists
Here are some practical ways therapists can implement the findings from this research to improve their teletherapy practice:
- Be Active and Engaging: Actively engage your clients and direct the session to compensate for the physical distance.
- Express Feelings Verbally: Make an effort to verbalize your feelings to overcome the lack of nonverbal cues.
- Maintain Focus: Stay fully focused and present during sessions to create a deeper, more intense therapeutic experience.
- Explore Home Environment: Use the opportunity to gain insights into your clients' home life, which can enrich the therapeutic process.
- Emotional Attunement: Make active efforts to connect emotionally with your clients, which can foster a stronger therapeutic relationship.
Encouraging Further Research
While the Teletherapy Intervention Scale offers valuable insights, further validation and research are needed. Therapists are encouraged to explore these findings in their practice and contribute to the growing body of teletherapy research.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Mastery of teletherapy is related to better therapeutic relationship and presence in teletherapy: the development of the teletherapy intervention scale.
