According to clients, remote psychotherapy is no less effective (and sometimes even more effective) than face-to-face.
Here's what the research have told us recently.
Patients suffering from anxiety experience a stronger connection with a psychotherapist during video chats than face-to-face [1]. It should be mentioned though, that patients’ evaluations are more positive than therapists’.
Therapists’ approach to remote work depends on various factors, including experience and type [2]. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapists evaluate remote therapy more positively than psychodynamic therapists. The more experienced you are with remote work as a professional, the more positive attitude towards remote work you have.
Remote psychotherapy is said to be effective not only for adults but also for children [3]. 96.8% - that many children experienced positive effects of remote cognitive-behavioral therapy, i.e., did not meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD after therapy.
Remote psychotherapy is beneficial for both patients and specialists. For example, therapists value remote supervision (sessions during which relevant professional issues are addressed with a more experienced therapist) as favorably as face-to-face ones [4].
Summa summarum: the pandemic has debunked prevailing myths that psychotherapy (except in specific cases) requires face-to-face contact. Research shows that clients feel otherwise.
The question is: Would the research results be the same during a non-pandemic time?
[1] Watts, S., Marchand, A., Bouchard, S., Gosselin, P., Langlois, F., Belleville, G., & Dugas, M. J. (2020). Telepsychotherapy for generalized anxiety disorder: Impact on the working alliance. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 30(2), 208–225. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000223
[2] Békés, V., & Aafjes-van Doorn, K. (2020). Psychotherapists’ attitudes toward online therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 30(2), 238–247. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000214
[3] Stewart, R. W., Orengo-Aguayo, R., Young, J., Wallace, M. M., Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., & de Arellano, M. A. (2020). Feasibility and effectiveness of a telehealth service delivery model for treating childhood posttraumatic stress: A community-based, open pilot trial of trauma-focused cognitive–behavioral therapy. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 30(2), 274–289. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000225
[4] Tarlow, K. R., McCord, C. E., Nelon, J. L., & Bernhard, P. A. (2020). Comparing in-person supervision and telesupervision: A multiple baseline single-case study. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 30(2), 383–393. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000210