Online psychological support in the COVID-19 era: Social representations, trust and perceived effectiveness from the perspectives of clients and professionals

IF 1.2 Q3 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Counselling & Psychotherapy Research Pub Date : 2024-06-02 DOI:10.1002/capr.12779

Elisa Colì, Loredana Gavrila, Dacia Cozzo, Rino Falcone

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

This study examined the topic of online psychological counselling, focusing on the perspectives of both clients and professionals. In light of the widespread adoption of computer-mediated psychological support during the COVID-19 pandemic, the research analysed how it has taken shape in the collective consciousness, the role of trust, and perceived effectiveness.

Method

The sample consisted of 133 professionals (M = 46) and 716 patients (M = 33), recruited through non-probabilistic snowball sampling. Data, collected through two ad hoc questionnaires, were analysed using the EVOC 2005 software (for social representations) and SPSS (for quantitative data).

Results

Overall, regarding the social representation of online psychological support, in the central core of the therapists' representation there seems to be a structured idea of the emotional distance that online therapy inevitably brings with it. In the core of the patients' representation, the idea of online support has been structured as a form of assistance that has shown its full usefulness during the pandemic.

Quantitative data reveal a perceived efficacy of online psychological support comparable to in-person therapy. Efficacy is enhanced by an already-established trust relationship. The adoption of the online mode seems to have favoured the deployment of new resources by therapists and patients, attesting to an adaptation to this new way of conducting therapy. The online mode, in particular, will continue to be chosen by both, along with face-to-face meetings, as a mode of psychological support post-pandemic.

Conclusion

Based on these findings, this study holds strong potential for practical application in the field of remote therapy.

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COVID-19 时代的在线心理支持：从客户和专业人士的角度看社会表征、信任和感知效果

本研究探讨了在线心理咨询这一主题，重点关注客户和专业人员的观点。鉴于在 COVID-19 大流行期间广泛采用了以计算机为媒介的心理支持，研究分析了它在集体意识中是如何形成的、信任的作用以及感知的有效性。通过两份临时调查问卷收集的数据，使用 EVOC 2005 软件（社会表征）和 SPSS（定量数据）进行了分析。总体而言，关于在线心理支持的社会表征，治疗师表征的核心似乎是一种结构化的观念，即在线治疗不可避免地会带来情感距离。定量数据显示，在线心理支持的感知疗效可与面对面治疗相媲美。已经建立的信任关系增强了疗效。在线模式的采用似乎有利于治疗师和患者调配新的资源，证明他们已经适应了这种新的治疗方式。尤其是在线模式，将与面对面会谈一起继续被双方选择，作为大流行后的一种心理支持模式。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Counselling & Psychotherapy Research PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

12.50%

发文量

期刊介绍： Counselling and Psychotherapy Research is an innovative international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to linking research with practice. Pluralist in orientation, the journal recognises the value of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods strategies of inquiry and aims to promote high-quality, ethical research that informs and develops counselling and psychotherapy practice. CPR is a journal of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, promoting reflexive research strongly linked to practice. The journal has its own website: www.cprjournal.com. The aim of this site is to further develop links between counselling and psychotherapy research and practice by offering accessible information about both the specific contents of each issue of CPR, as well as wider developments in counselling and psychotherapy research. The aims are to ensure that research remains relevant to practice, and for practice to continue to inform research development.