Exploring the Experience of Delivering Talking Therapies Online due to the Pandemic and Assessing the Impact on its Practitioners

Demand for talking therapies rose exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic and, despite growing research supporting the efficacy of online therapy for clients, the necessity to deliver remotely proved challenging for counsellors and psychotherapists that transitioned to this approach, particularly those in third sector organisations. To better understand how to assist practitioners in adjusting to new methods of working and incorporating technology into their practice, this study addresses obstacles faced by practitioners and offers practical observations based on research findings. By conducting qualitative interviews with practitioners from charitable organisations and applying a thematic analysis, it was possible to identify key issues experienced, an accompanying shift in perception and establish mitigation to overcome challenges to improve their practice. This study offers insights into the future of talking therapies, which includes benefits such as increased accessibility, and provides practical recommendations to better adapt to delivering therapy online.