Trainee psychologists’ experiences of learning and conducting psychodynamic therapy via telepsychology

Abstract

Despite extensive research on telepsychology, less attention has been devoted to psychodynamic therapy (PDT), especially trainee psychologists’ experience of learning and conducting online PDT. Using inductive thematic analysis, this study explored the experiences of student psychologists learning and conducting PDT via video-based web platforms. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 Australian trainee psychologists, all completing the psychodynamic component of their clinical psychology training. Interviews addressed participants’ experiences of online PDT learning and psychotherapy practice, generating five main themes: (1) technological barriers and their impacts, (2) overcoming telepsychology limitations through awareness and adaptation, (3) benefits of telepsychology, (4) effectiveness of psychodynamic telepsychology, and (5) experience of online psychotherapy learning. Participants reported that the paucity of sensory information, client resistance, distraction, problems maintaining therapy boundaries, supervisor opposition, and technological limitations made online PDT difficult to conduct and less effective than in-person treatment. However, some participants noted that the anxiety of commencing PDT delivery was reduced online, and that the ‘layer of separation’ assisted countertransference management. Notwithstanding its inherent limitations, online PDT was perceived to be relatively effective, but this requires specific training in adapting traditional psychodynamic techniques. Furthermore, PDT may be effectively learned online, but is an inferior alternative to in-person training.