In the evolving landscape of mental health treatment, the integration of internet-based interventions with traditional face-to-face therapy, known as blended therapy (BT), is gaining traction. The research article "Two sides of the same coin? Patient and therapist experiences with a transdiagnostic blended intervention focusing on emotion regulation" offers valuable insights into the experiences of both patients and therapists with this innovative approach. This blog aims to help practitioners enhance their skills by implementing the research outcomes or encouraging further exploration into blended therapy.
Understanding Blended Therapy
Blended therapy combines the strengths of face-to-face (FTF) psychotherapy and internet-based interventions (IBI), providing a flexible and comprehensive treatment approach. The study by Bielinski et al. (2022) delves into the experiences of eight patients and eight therapists participating in a transdiagnostic blended intervention focusing on emotion regulation. The qualitative analysis revealed ten main themes and numerous subthemes, highlighting both similarities and differences in the perspectives of patients and therapists.
Key Findings and Recommendations
1. Positive Expectations and Alleviating Fears
Both patients and therapists generally had positive expectations towards BT, although some patients expressed concerns about independent work. To address this, therapists can conduct an introductory FTF session to build on expectations and alleviate any apprehensions.
- Recommendation: Start BT with an FTF session to transform neutral patient expectations and openly discuss possible fears.
2. Enhancing the Internet-Based Program
While the design, structure, and content of the IBI were positively received, some exercises were deemed unhelpful by both patients and therapists. A more individualized, tailored approach to the IBI content may improve its relevance and effectiveness.
- Recommendation: Include personalized content in transdiagnostic IBI by offering a variety of exercises that cater to patient needs or clinical judgment.
3. Monitoring Patient Progress
Therapists expressed a desire for direct access to the IBI and patient progress. Utilizing innovative technologies like visual analytics dashboards can facilitate this.
- Recommendation: Use technology that enables therapists to monitor patient progress through an easy-to-use dashboard.
4. Fostering Emotion Regulation and Symptom Improvement
Both patients and therapists reported increased awareness and better influence over emotions, along with positive symptom changes. However, changes in symptomatology may not be immediately visible.
- Recommendation: Inform patients that changes in symptomatology may take time, even if improvements in emotion regulation are more immediate.
5. Strengthening the Therapeutic Relationship
Most participants noted no significant impact on the therapeutic relationship. Therapists should gain in-depth knowledge of IBI content and not worry excessively about increased patient workload.
- Recommendation: Ensure therapists are well-versed in IBI content and communicate openly about patient workload concerns.
6. Integrating Face-to-Face and Internet-Based Components
Both groups felt that the integration of IBI and FTF sessions was insufficient. An intricate integration of these components can enhance the therapy experience.
- Recommendation: Ensure that the integration of FTF and IBI elements is a shared responsibility between therapists and patients.
Conclusion
The study by Bielinski et al. (2022) offers crucial insights into the experiences of patients and therapists with transdiagnostic blended therapy focusing on emotion regulation. By implementing the recommendations derived from this research, practitioners can enhance their skills and improve the overall therapy experience for their clients. For those interested in further exploring this topic, the original research paper provides a comprehensive analysis and is available here.
To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Two sides of the same coin? Patient and therapist experiences with a transdiagnostic blended intervention focusing on emotion regulation.
