Percepção de terapeutas sobre atendimento via internet durante a pandemia de COVID-19

Abstract

Internet psychotherapy is a form of psychological care that uses communication technology to mediate the interaction between psychotherapist and client. Its regulation in Brazil has been discussed for over a decade, being fully legalized only in 2020 during social isolation. Research produced with the Brazilian public has shown that this modality of therapy is similar to face-to-face therapy, being equally effective in several cases, even though it presents new challenges. Due to the expansion of online clinical practice in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic and the stressful effects of this context, this qualitative research aimed to assess, through online questionnaires, the challenges and clinical management strategies used by psychotherapists attending via the internet during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. In this sample, the therapists did not find problems related to the use of electronic equipment and internet connection, most of them evaluated the online practice as useful in the treatment of the most frequent disorders, such as anxiety and depression.