Addressing Vaccination Hesitancy in Psychotherapy

Vaccine hesitancy refers to delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccination despite availability of vaccination series. The majority of psychologists reported that they do not anticipate resuming in-person service delivery until after a vaccine was available. There are currently no best practice guidelines for making the transition back to in-office practice after the COVID-19 pandemic. This article provides some initial thoughts on relevant dimensions to consider. These include utilization of the core CDC behavioral practices of mask use and social distancing and cleaning surfaces. Psychologists are also encouraged to set positive expectations about vaccination, state clear expectations of vaccination for in-office care, actively listen to patient doubts about vaccinations, and actively exploring patient understanding of the COVID-19 disease processes and prevention efforts.