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The experiences of psychologists working with people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID ‐19 crisis
Author(s) -
Embregts Petri J. C. M.,
Tournier Tess,
Frielink Noud
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/jar.12916
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , covid-19 , psychology , coaching , intellectual disability , challenging behaviour , qualitative research , applied psychology , medical education , psychiatry , medicine , sociology , psychotherapist , social science , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty)
Background The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of psychologists working with people with intellectual disabilities during the initial stage of the COVID‐19 lockdown in the Netherlands. Method Five psychologists, who were affiliated with three intellectual disability services, participated in this descriptive qualitative study. Overall, they recorded 22 audio messages during the period under examination, which were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Three themes were identified: (a) Working from home; (b) Adapting to the new reality; and (c) Advising and coaching support staff. Conclusions This study provides critical insights into the experiences of psychologists working with people with intellectual disabilities during the initial stage of the COVID‐19 lockdown. These insights can help policymakers and practitioners to prepare for either a potential second wave of COVID‐19 or a future pandemic.