Universität zu Köln

Gullo, Salvatore, Lo Coco, Gianluca, Leszcz, Molyn, Marmarosh, Cheri L., Miles, Joseph R., Shechtman, Zipora, Weber, Rainer and Tasca, Giorgio A. (2022). Therapists' Perceptions of Online Group Therapeutic Relationships During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey-Based Study. Group Dyn.-Theory Res. Pract., 26 (2). S. 103 - 119. WASHINGTON: EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING FOUNDATION-AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC. ISSN 1930-7802

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Abstract

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.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Gullo, Salvatore UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Lo Coco, Gianluca UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Leszcz, Molyn UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Marmarosh, Cheri L. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Miles, Joseph R. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Shechtman, Zipora UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Weber, Rainer UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Tasca, Giorgio A. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-689483
DOI:	10.1037/gdn0000189
Journal or Publication Title:	Group Dyn.-Theory Res. Pract.
Volume:	26
Number:	2
Page Range:	S. 103 - 119
Date:	2022
Publisher:	EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING FOUNDATION-AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOC
Place of Publication:	WASHINGTON
ISSN:	1930-7802
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language GROUP-PSYCHOTHERAPY; GROUP CLIMATE; TELEPSYCHOTHERAPY; CHALLENGES; ALLIANCE; COHESION; DISORDER; EMPATHY; HEALTH Multiple languages Psychology, Social Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/68948