Therapists' Perceptions of Online Group Therapeutic Relationships During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey-Based Study

Background: In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most group therapists moved their practice to online platforms. Surveys of psychotherapists indicate that many intend to maintain at least part of their practices online after the pandemic. This survey-based study is an attempt to identify therapist...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Group dynamics 2022-06, Vol.26 (2), p.103-118
Main Authors: Gullo, Salvatore, Lo Coco, Gianluca, Leszcz, Molyn, Marmarosh, Cheri L., Miles, Joseph R., Shechtman, Zipora, Weber, Rainer, Tasca, Giorgio A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clinical outcomes
Confirmatory factor analysis
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Empathy
Female
Group Psychotherapy
Group therapy
Human
Internet
Male
Nonverbal communication
Online Therapy
Pandemics
Patients
Polls & surveys
Psychotherapists
Self disclosure
Structural equation modeling
Therapeutic Processes
Therapist Attitudes
Therapists
Treatment Outcomes
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Summary:Background: In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most group therapists moved their practice to online platforms. Surveys of psychotherapists indicate that many intend to maintain at least part of their practices online after the pandemic. This survey-based study is an attempt to identify therapist experiences with doing group therapy online, and to examine factors that are associated with therapist-rated outcomes. Method: We surveyed 307 group therapists about their ratings of the ease or difficulty in conducting group therapy online versus in-person, and indicators of patient outcomes in online groups. A confirmatory factor analysis resulted in a good fitting three latent factor solution: group therapeutic process factor (therapist ratings of ease to foster therapeutic alliance, group cohesion, and patient self-disclosure), group therapist factor (therapist presence, empathy, and focus in online therapy), and group therapeutic challenges factors in online work (related to the difficulty of working through conflict, managing avoidance, observing nonverbal communication, and discomfort during the online session). An online group therapy outcome factor was the dependent variable modeled as a latent factor of therapists' perception of patient outcomes and their own satisfaction with online groups. In a structural equation model, higher levels of the group therapeutic processes and group therapist factors, and lower group challenges were associated with higher online group therapy outcomes. Discussion: The present study suggests that online groups operate based on many of the same factors that have been supported in in-person group treatment. These factors were associated with the therapist's perceptions of online group effectiveness. However, difficulties in managing relationships in the online session may represent a barrier to enacting group therapeutic factors. Postpandemic research on conducting online group therapy and managing online therapeutic relationships may lessen perceived drawbacks to its use. Highlights and Implications * A survey of group therapists who switched to online work during the pandemic was constructed by researchers and clinician experts in group therapy. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of survey responses resulted in three latent factors: a group therapeutic processes factor, a group therapist factor, and a group therapeutic challenges factor in online work. * In a structural model, higher levels of the group therape
ISSN:1089-2699
1930-7802
DOI:10.1037/gdn0000189