Digital systemic practices in Europe: a survey before the Covid‐19 pandemic

Abstract

Knowledge regarding digital practices in the field of systemic therapy is poor. A few surveys have been conducted in non‐European countries investigating the provision of digitally based therapy, counselling, training, and supervision by systemic family and couple therapists (SCFTs). Thus, a survey aiming to investigate the use of information and communication technology (ICT) among European SCFTs was launched in 2017. A sample of 220 SCFTs was included in the survey. The majority were residents in Greece, France and Italy. Descriptive analysis compared SCFTs’ digital practices and concerns from the above three countries with those from the rest of Europe. Results showed that 81.4 per cent of European SCFTs used ICT for clinical purposes and 47.7 per cent in training and supervision. Main concerns among European SCFTs related to the quality of therapeutic relationship, ethical and legal issues, and a lack of national and transnational regulation. Practitioner points ICT use and e‐therapy increase access to mental health services and maintain therapeutic contact Systemic individual therapy, supervision and training are workable online settings Legislation regulating ICT use in therapy, supervision and training (e.g. General Data Protection Regulation) has to be respected Training and continuous education in online practices enhance therapists’ and clients’ options, and ensure digital safeness and effective treatment

‘Living in a Zoom world’: Survey mapping how COVID‐19 is changing family therapy practice in the UK

“…Borcsa and Pomini, 2017; Wrape and McGinn, 2018), but a European survey of 252 systemic couple and family therapists, which included 6 respondents from the UK, revealed that, although 81% had used information and communication technology (ICT) for clinical communication (e.g. email), only 4% had worked with families online (Borcsa et al ., 2020).…”

Integrating eHealth within a Transforming Mental Healthcare Setting: A Qualitative Study into Values, Challenges, and Prerequisites

“…In the context of the transforming practice, in which we combine the use of eHealth with the involvement of a network and thus involving more persons, it might be even more complicated to ensure a therapeutic alliance. The experiences in the field of digital systemic practices (e.g., digital family therapy) [ 61 ] may give new insights into how to deal with this complexity, even though it is a relatively new study field [ 62 ]. For example, research shows that family therapists need to develop complex communication skills to engage with multiple clients through eHealth.…”

Η Θεραπευτική Σχέση Στη Συστημική Ψυχοθεραπεία Οικογένειας Και Ζεύγους: Απόψεις Σε Εξέλιξη

“…Κύρια άλλα πλεονεκτήματα των ψηφιακών πρακτικών στην παροχή υπηρεσιών ψυχικής υγείας είναι η εξοικονόμηση πόρων και χρόνου, η ευελιξία, η δυνατότητα συνεργασίας με άτομα που ταξιδεύουν συχνά ή μεταφέρονται σε άλλον τόπο, η δυνατότητα άμεσης παροχής βοήθειας καθώς και η διευκόλυνση της αρχικής κινητοποίησης με στόχο την προετοιμασία συνάντησης πρόσωπο με πρόσωπο (face-to-face) (Borcsa, Pomini, & Saint Mont, 2021).…”