Transition to Telepsychotherapy: Experiential Perspective of Debutant Therapists

Telepsychotherapy emerged in India during the early 2000s and experienced a significant increase in utilization during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It falls under the category of telemental health, which refers to delivering behavioral and mental health care services through technological platforms, either as a substitute for or alongside traditional face-to-face methods. Despite offering enhanced access to mental health care, telepsychotherapy presents challenges to established practices of conventional psychotherapy, especially to the trainees. Thus, understanding their perspective on this transition is crucial for optimizing telepsychotherapy effectiveness in the future. The current study aims to delve into the experiences of debutant psychotherapists concerning their training and implementation of telepsychotherapy. The study utilized a qualitative approach and employed purposive sampling to gather data. Participants M. Phil Clinical Psychology within last 6 months were approached through social media, targeted emails, and a snowball method within their social network. The thematic analyses were conducted to identify and categorize common themes, shedding light on the evolving landscape of telepsychotherapy and its impact on the learning process of future therapists. It is a rapidly evolving field that has become increasingly crucial in the current context. Understanding trainees' perspectives on this shift and how it impacts their learning process is vital for enhancing the effectiveness of telepsychotherapy for future therapists.