Parentes eller paradigmskifte? En intervjustudie om par- och familjeterapeuters upplevelser av psykoterapi online under pågående covid-19-pandemi

Sammanfattning: This study aims to increase understanding of how couple and family therapy are affected by being carried out online, and to explore couple and family therapists’ experiences of online therapy. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight accredited couple and family therapists with experience of practicing therapy online. The data was subjected to thematic analysis, and nine themes were identified. A key finding is that communication was affected by the limited non-verbal communication in online therapy. The relationship and balance of responsibilities between the therapist and the couple or family were also found to differ in online therapy, tending to be more symmetrical. In addition, a new type of direct feedback process was found to occur in online therapy. The study indicates that strong alliances can be formed online and that it is feasible to work with emotion regulation, mentalization and intersubjectivity, though a more deliberate approach is required. However, the therapists reported hesitation and caution about carrying out creative family therapeutic interventions online, and a greater reliance on conversation-based approaches. This points to the risk of children being excluded from online family therapy. The study also shows that experience of conducting online therapy can give the therapist increased confidence and a broader repertoire of skills online. The implications for practice and further research are discussed; online therapy is a relatively unexplored field, and the study indicates a clear need for continued research to increase knowledge and understanding.