The COVID-19 Crisis as an Evolutionary Catalyst of Online Psychological Interventions. A Systematic Review and Qualitative Synthesis

Tomaino, Silvia Caterina Maria; Viganò, Giulia; Cipolletta, Sabrina

doi:10.1080/10447318.2022.2111047

Cited by 10 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…Moreover, as recent years have witnessed a significant increase in the implementation of effective online versions of psychological interventions [ 48 , 49 ], emphasizing the opportunity for more agile and easier dissemination of evidence-based protocols, the online version of the intervention (eCONNECT) was designed and tested within the context of the pandemic period [ 50 , 51 ]. However, no data are available for this program in regard to the Italian population.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

eCONNECT Parent Group: An Online Attachment-Based Intervention to Reduce Attachment Insecurity, Behavioral Problems, and Emotional Dysregulation in Adolescence

Benzi

Carone

Moretti

et al. 2023

IJERPH

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During adolescence, a secure parent–adolescent relationship promotes youths’ adjustment and psychological well-being. In this scenario, several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the CONNECT program, a 10-session, attachment-based parenting intervention that helps parents understand and reframe their parent–adolescent interactions, reducing adolescents’ insecure attachment and behavioral problems. Furthermore, recent years have witnessed a significant increase in the implementation of effective online versions of psychological interventions, emphasizing the opportunity for more agile and easier dissemination of evidence-based protocols. Therefore, this study aims to identify changes in adolescents’ attachment insecurity, behavioral problems, and parent–child affect regulation strategies, providing preliminary findings on an online, 10-session, attachment-based parenting intervention (eCONNECT). A total of 24 parents (20 mothers, 4 fathers; Mage = 49.33, SD = 5.32) of adolescents (Mage = 13.83 years, SD = 1.76, 45.8% girls) were assessed on their adolescents’ attachment insecurity (avoidance and anxiety) and behavioral problems (externalizing and internalizing), and on their affect regulation strategies in the parent–child interaction (adaptive reflection, suppression, and affect dysregulation) at three time points: before intervention (t0), after intervention (t1), and at a 2-month follow-up (t2). Mixed-effects regression models highlighted a reduction in adolescents’ internalizing problems (d = 0.11), externalizing problems (d = 0.29), and attachment avoidance (d = 0.26) after the intervention. Moreover, the reduction in externalizing problems and attachment avoidance remained stable at follow-up. Additionally, our findings highlighted a reduction in parent–child affect dysregulation. Results add preliminary evidence on the implementation suitability of an online attachment-based parenting intervention to change at-risk adolescents’ developmental trajectories by reducing attachment insecurity, behavioral problems, and parent–child affect regulation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

eCONNECT Parent Group: An Online Attachment-Based Intervention to Reduce Attachment Insecurity, Behavioral Problems, and Emotional Dysregulation in Adolescence

Benzi

Carone

Moretti

et al. 2023

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…However, more recently, online therapy studies have assessed mental health practitioners' experiences of online therapy during the COVID‐19 pandemic when therapists had to adapt the modality in which they delivered therapy, given that face‐to‐face therapy was often not a possibility. In these circumstances, and in comparison with face‐to‐face therapy, therapists reported experiencing a lower level of emotional engagement and empathy and increased levels of fatigue and boredom in online therapy, some of which were attributed to technical issues or barriers caused by the online format (Békés & Aafjes‐van Doorn, 2020; Messina & Löffler‐Stastka, 2021; Smith & Gillon, 2021; Tomaino et al, 2022). Many therapists thus deemed online therapy to be less effective than in‐person therapy; however, those who perceived their clients to have had a positive experience of online therapy were more likely to report an overall positive experience themselves (Békés & Aafjes‐van Doorn, 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although restrictions in many countries have eased, particularly following vaccine roll‐outs, further waves of COVID‐19 outbreaks and the emergence of new variants have meant that online therapy continues to be a significant way of providing client support. Tomaino et al (2022) note that, in many ways, COVID‐19 has served as a catalyst for the use of online psychological interventions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While some research has explored therapists' experiences of delivering interventions online during COVID‐19 (Tomaino et al, 2022), it is also important to understand clients' experiences of online therapy during the pandemic. Understanding client and therapist perspectives is crucial to adapt and improve the online therapy experience (Smith et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…therapy continues to be a significant way of providing client support. Tomaino et al (2022) note that, in many ways, COVID-19 has served as a catalyst for the use of online psychological interventions.…”

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confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Clients' experiences of online therapy in the early stages of a COVID‐19 world: A scoping review

Kessel

Pont

Gasteiger

et al. 2022

Couns and Psychother Res

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The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019 forced an abrupt shift in the modality through which psychotherapy was delivered and online therapy became the only viable option for clients. Research regarding experiences of online therapy during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic is minimal, however, and has largely focussed on therapists' experiences of delivering online treatment, as opposed to clients' expe-van KESSEL et al.

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When the algorithm ‘matches’ us: The experiences of early‐career psychologists on online platform services for psychotherapy and counselling in Italy

Margherita,

Caffieri,

De Maio

2023

Couns and Psychother Res

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IntroductionThe spread of online platform services offering psychological psychotherapy and counselling has been observed globally. In Italy, these services were aimed at young people and offered job opportunities to early‐career clinical psychologists.AimThe current study aimed to explore the professional experiences of early‐career psychologists (age range: 29–35 years) in working on online platform services that deliver psychotherapy and counselling in Italy.MethodA total of 13 psychologists practising psychological interventions on online platform services were interviewed. Participants had a mean of 3 years' clinical experience. A thematic analysis, following the qualitative approach of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), was performed.ResultsFrom the analysis, four superordinate themes emerged: (1) a smart intervention; (2) professional identity; (3) a different and wide contact; and (4) grateful to the platform, loyal to the ‘company’.DiscussionThe online platforms represented a ‘medium’ with a ‘third’ function on a double level. At one level, they mediated between the request of the client and the psychologist, using the suggestions of AI algorithms. At another level, they offered employability and a guide to online interventions to early‐career psychologists. Some critical issues related to ethics emerged considering the difficulty in maintaining the psychologists' autonomy before the affiliation to the business model promoted by the company, which may not match the client's interests.ConclusionThe study highlights that online platforms promote a new culture of psychological health services, changing the representations and meanings attributed to the online intervention, the clinical profession and the psychologist–client relationship.

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The COVID-19 Crisis as an Evolutionary Catalyst of Online Psychological Interventions. A Systematic Review and Qualitative Synthesis

Cited by 10 publications

References 59 publications

eCONNECT Parent Group: An Online Attachment-Based Intervention to Reduce Attachment Insecurity, Behavioral Problems, and Emotional Dysregulation in Adolescence

eCONNECT Parent Group: An Online Attachment-Based Intervention to Reduce Attachment Insecurity, Behavioral Problems, and Emotional Dysregulation in Adolescence

Clients' experiences of online therapy in the early stages of a COVID‐19 world: A scoping review

When the algorithm ‘matches’ us: The experiences of early‐career psychologists on online platform services for psychotherapy and counselling in Italy

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