The Transition to Telepsychology during the COVID-19 Pandemic: College Student and Counselor Acceptability Perceptions and Attitudes

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic forced univaersity and college counseling and psychological service centers to swiftly switch to telepsychology service delivery to meet the continuing needs of student clients. This study was conducted at the onset and peak periods of the COVID-19 outbreak. We explored student client and counselor acceptability, attitudes, perceptions, experiences, barriers, and facilitators to remote telepsychology services using Qualtrics survey methodologies. Student clients and counselors were sent, via e-mail, two separate, but parallel anonymous questionnaires developed for purposes of this study. Results revealed that most student clients agreed that mental health service delivery via telepsychology was an adequate alternative to face-to-face therapy, there were few challenges with telepsychology with ease of access a key benefit. Student clients also felt that the therapeutic alliance was commensurate with face-to-face therapy while identifying lack of privacy in the home as the most problematic aspect of telepsychology. Counselors and student clients both identified convenience as the most important characteristic of telepsychology. Limitations are discussed as well as directions for future research. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of College Student Psychotherapy is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)