Psychotherapists’ experiences of telepsychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina: impact on therapy setting, therapeutic relationship and burden

Abstract

In order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in Argentina, quarantine and distancing measures were adopted. This has led to a large increase in the use of online psychotherapy. Several international studies have already examined the transition from face-to-face therapy to telepsychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic from a therapist perspective, but within these studies, the Latin American context is not represented. To fill this research gap, this qualitative study explored the Argentinean psychotherapists´ experiences with online psychotherapy during the COVID-19 pandemic by means of in-depth interviews and content analysis. Based on the international literature, an interview guideline was created which covered three main topics: setting, therapeutic relationship, and burden among therapists. For the analysis of the therapists’ answers, a detailed codebook was developed. Effects were identified in all three areas investigated. The nine interviewed psychotherapists described unfavorable therapy conditions which affected the therapeutic setting, the psychotherapeutic methods and contents. Positive effects in the therapeutic relationship included patients being more open, but also negative effects such as discontinuation of therapies were reported. Therapists experienced telepsychotherapy as more exhausting than in-person psychotherapy, but they considered it a valuable tool during the pandemic, and the transition an enriching experience. These results, which are partially consistent with international findings, have practical implications for the practice of telepsychotherapy in Argentina. Technical conditions should be improved and patients’ privacy during the session should be ensured. Treatment techniques and diagnostics need to be adapted for their use in telepsychotherapy.