Collaborative Care at a Distance: Student Therapists' Experiences of Learning and Delivering Relationally Focused...

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Telemental Health
• Psychotherapy

Background:

• Telemental health is increasingly recognized as effective for various mental health issues.
• While many in-person therapeutic skills transfer, telemental health necessitates distinct competencies.
• Understanding the learning process for telemental health providers is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the lived experiences of clinicians learning to provide relationally focused mental health care via videoconferencing.
• To identify key challenges and facilitators in the acquisition of telemental health skills.

Main Methods:

• Phenomenological study design.
• In-depth interviews with 10 graduates from a master's program with telemental health emphasis.
• Participants completed practicum placements involving videoconferencing for psychotherapy.

Main Results:

• Clinicians reported initial personal reservations regarding distance-based mental health care.
• Scaffolding through curriculum, supervision, and protocols was vital for skill development.
• Technological challenges were significant but surmountable through intentional effort.

Conclusions:

• Effective telemental health practice requires specific training and adaptation.
• Addressing both psychological and technical barriers is essential for successful telemental health delivery.
• Further research into telemental health training models is warranted.