Emergency Remote Training in Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy: An Initial Assessment from Columbia

Area of Science:

• Psychoanalytic education
• Psychotherapy training
• Mental health professional development

Background:

• The Covid-19 pandemic necessitated a rapid transition to remote modalities for psychoanalytic training.
• Social distancing measures impacted all aspects of psychoanalytic education, including classes, supervision, and clinical work.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess psychotherapy and psychoanalysis trainees' initial experiences with remote training during the Covid-19 pandemic.
• To understand trainee satisfaction, challenges, and preferences regarding online versus in-person psychoanalytic education.

Main Methods:

• A poll was administered to psychotherapy and psychoanalysis trainees at the Columbia University Center for Psychoanalytic Training and Research.
• The survey assessed experiences with remote classes, supervision, clinical work, and training analyses.

Main Results:

• Most trainees found remote learning technically accessible and were generally satisfied, though concentration difficulties were noted.
• While preferring in-person interactions, trainees indicated a reduced likelihood of returning to in-person training due to health risks.
• Trainees suggested pedagogical adjustments to enhance engagement and focus in remote learning environments.

Conclusions:

• Psychoanalytic training can adapt to remote formats, but challenges in concentration and engagement persist.
• Trainee preferences for in-person learning are tempered by safety concerns, suggesting a hybrid future for psychoanalytic education.
• Findings offer insights into optimizing remote psychoanalytic training and inform ongoing debates about its efficacy and implementation.