The Transition to Telepsychology during the COVID-19 Pandemic: College Student and Counselor Acceptability Perceptions and Attitudes
Jorge E. González, Ashley N. Ramclam, Rune Moelbak, Meghan Roche
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.