Addressing Vaccination Hesitancy in Psychotherapy

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Public Health
• Infectious Disease

Background:

• Vaccine hesitancy, the delay or refusal of vaccines, impacts public health.
• Psychologists anticipate resuming in-person services post-vaccination.
• Lack of established guidelines for returning to in-office practice post-COVID-19.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide initial considerations for psychologists transitioning back to in-office practice.
• To address challenges related to vaccine hesitancy and patient concerns.

Main Methods:

• Review of core Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) behavioral practices.
• Recommendations for psychologists on managing patient expectations and addressing doubts regarding vaccination.
• Emphasis on exploring patient understanding of COVID-19 disease processes and prevention.

Main Results:

• No specific results reported as this is a conceptual/guideline article.
• Identifies key areas for consideration in practice transition.

Conclusions:

• Psychologists should integrate CDC guidelines (masking, distancing, cleaning) into practice.
• Proactive communication regarding vaccination policies and patient education are crucial.
• Addressing patient vaccine hesitancy and understanding of COVID-19 is essential for safe return to in-office care.