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Relational teletherapy experiences of couple and family therapy trainees: “Reading the room,” exhaustion, and the comforts of home
Author(s) -
HeidenRootes Katie,
Ferber Megan,
Meyer Dixie,
Zubatsky Max,
Wittenborn Andrea
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of marital and family therapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.868
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1752-0606
pISSN - 0194-472X
DOI - 10.1111/jmft.12486
Subject(s) - intervention (counseling) , thematic analysis , psychological intervention , telehealth , psychology , family therapy , medical education , accreditation , reading (process) , qualitative research , psychotherapist , medicine , nursing , telemedicine , sociology , health care , social science , political science , law , economics , economic growth
Couple and family therapists are increasingly using telehealth platforms to deliver services. Unfortunately, the literature on relational teletherapy is not well developed. This study sought to understand experiences of teletherapy with couples and families as it contrasts with individual clients and in‐person therapy. We utilized a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to qualitative inquiry from data collected through open‐ended questions on a web‐based survey of graduate student trainees ( n = 66) in COAMFTE‐accredited couple and family therapy programs. Thematic analysis identified the body‐of‐the‐therapist and client as they exist (and are obstructed) due to technology for creating barriers and opportunities in translating CFT intervention to telehealth platforms. Relational teletherapy cultivated therapist creativity and exhaustion. It also made plain the need for systemic interventions with children and adolescents that engages their parents and home environments. Implications for CFT practice, training, and intervention research are outlined.