When the algorithm ‘matches’ us: The experiences of early-career psychologists on online platform services for psychotherapy and counselling in Italy

IF 1.2 Q3 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL Counselling & Psychotherapy Research Pub Date : 2023-10-10 DOI:10.1002/capr.12704

Giorgia Margherita, Alessia Caffieri, Nadia De Maio

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Abstract

Introduction

The spread of online platform services offering psychological psychotherapy and counselling has been observed globally. In Italy, these services were aimed at young people and offered job opportunities to early-career clinical psychologists.

Aim

The current study aimed to explore the professional experiences of early-career psychologists (age range: 29–35 years) in working on online platform services that deliver psychotherapy and counselling in Italy.

Method

A total of 13 psychologists practising psychological interventions on online platform services were interviewed. Participants had a mean of 3 years' clinical experience. A thematic analysis, following the qualitative approach of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), was performed.

Results

From the analysis, four superordinate themes emerged: (1) a smart intervention; (2) professional identity; (3) a different and wide contact; and (4) grateful to the platform, loyal to the ‘company’.

Discussion

The online platforms represented a ‘medium’ with a ‘third’ function on a double level. At one level, they mediated between the request of the client and the psychologist, using the suggestions of AI algorithms. At another level, they offered employability and a guide to online interventions to early-career psychologists. Some critical issues related to ethics emerged considering the difficulty in maintaining the psychologists' autonomy before the affiliation to the business model promoted by the company, which may not match the client's interests.

Conclusion

The study highlights that online platforms promote a new culture of psychological health services, changing the representations and meanings attributed to the online intervention, the clinical profession and the psychologist–client relationship.

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当算法 "匹配 "我们时：意大利心理治疗和咨询在线平台服务的早期职业心理学家的经验

导言：提供心理治疗和咨询的在线平台服务在全球范围内得到推广。在意大利，这些服务主要面向年轻人，为初入职场的临床心理学家提供了工作机会。研究目的本研究旨在探讨意大利早期职业心理学家（年龄范围：29-35 岁）在提供心理治疗和咨询的在线平台服务中的职业经历。研究方法对在在线平台服务机构从事心理干预工作的 13 名心理学家进行了访谈。参与者的平均临床经验为 3 年。采用解释现象学分析（IPA）的定性方法进行了主题分析。结果通过分析，得出了四个上位主题：(1) 聪明的干预；(2) 专业身份；(3) 不同的广泛接触；(4) 感谢平台，忠于 "公司"。讨论网络平台是一种 "媒介"，在两个层面上具有 "第三 "功能。一方面，它们利用人工智能算法的建议，在客户的要求和心理学家之间进行调解。在另一个层面上，它们为初入职场的心理学家提供了就业能力和在线干预指南。考虑到在隶属于公司所倡导的商业模式之前，心理学家很难保持自主权，这可能与客户的利益不符，因此出现了一些与道德相关的关键问题。结论本研究强调，在线平台促进了心理健康服务的新文化，改变了在线干预、临床专业和心理学家与客户关系的表述和含义。

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来源期刊

Counselling & Psychotherapy Research PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

12.50%

发文量

期刊介绍： Counselling and Psychotherapy Research is an innovative international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to linking research with practice. Pluralist in orientation, the journal recognises the value of qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods strategies of inquiry and aims to promote high-quality, ethical research that informs and develops counselling and psychotherapy practice. CPR is a journal of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, promoting reflexive research strongly linked to practice. The journal has its own website: www.cprjournal.com. The aim of this site is to further develop links between counselling and psychotherapy research and practice by offering accessible information about both the specific contents of each issue of CPR, as well as wider developments in counselling and psychotherapy research. The aims are to ensure that research remains relevant to practice, and for practice to continue to inform research development.