Forged in the Fires of COVID-19: The Evolution of Systemic Therapy for Online Practice and Beyond

Abstract

There has been a swift uptake in the use of teletherapy since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has corresponded with an increase in clinical scholarship focused on conducting systemic therapy in an online format. A majority of this scholarship offers ideas for adapting therapeutic tasks developed around in-person contact for a remote format. The current article moves beyond adapting and offers ideas for remote systemic therapy that are born from our experiences of evolving through teletherapy. We begin by noting some of the significant differences between in-person therapy and teletherapy before describing how these differences can influence client presence and professionalism in session. Following this discussion, we offer ideas for how systemic therapists can enhance client presence, communicate the importance of the work, and inspire client initiative for change while working remotely.