The effect of attitudes toward online therapy and the difficulties perceived in online therapeutic presence.

Abstract

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to changes in every aspect of life. Online therapy creates both difficulties and learning opportunities for therapists. The literature shows that therapeutic presence is an important variable in efficacy and therapeutic change. Attitudes toward online therapy seem to impact the acceptance and adoption of telehealth interventions. The present cross-sectional study aims to understand whether attitudes toward online interventions and therapists' perceived difficulties in online therapy have an effect in therapeutic presence in a sample composed of psychologists and psychotherapists (N = 445). The data indicate that therapists' attitudes toward online interventions (s = .31;p < .001) and therapists' perceived difficulties (s = -.49;p < .001) are both significant predictors. These data have practical implications. Enhancing online psychological service could be done by improving therapeutic presence. Finally, ameliorating therapeutic presence could be possible by doing interventions on the other 2 variables under study. Further research is needed on this topic, which appears to be gaining importance in view of the ongoing pandemic. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement The results of this research suggest that both attitudes towards online therapy and difficulties perceived by therapists in online therapy have a significant effect on their therapeutic presence. The literature shows that during the present pandemic, with an enormous uncertainty facing the future, psychological support becomes even more necessary. Most therapists have been forced to start online therapy without experience and training, and more research is needed to clarify how we can improve online psychology services. The present research tried to find a possible way: it is suggested that doing interventions on difficulties perceived and in the attitudes towards online therapy the therapeutic presence of the therapist will increase. The therapeutic presence is a variable that appears in the literature as a common factor associated with a stronger therapeutic relationship and a more positive therapeutic alliance. These last two variables are considered as two consistent factors of change and effectiveness in psychotherapy. Research on how to improve online psychological support services is scarce, and thus a significant research effort is needed for present and future practical recommendations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)