Abstract
Psychotherapy conducted online using video conferencing software is becoming an
increasingly popular option for both clients and psychotherapists. The Coronavirus
pandemic (Covid-19) has forced the profession at large to become acquainted with this
mode of practice overnight, as seeing clients face to face has not been permitted during
a countrywide lockdown, from March to June 2020. However, specific training for
working online with video is not currently being covered by the majority of
psychotherapy training courses in Ireland. The core aim of this research is to address
specific nuances of working in this way from experienced practitioners that could have a
potential impact on the therapeutic encounter and its’ processes. This qualitative
research paper aims to identify these nuances and explore their implications for video
psychotherapy practice. It attempts to serve as a guide and support to practitioners who
decide to, or indeed have to, conduct their sessions over video. Six psychotherapists who
have experience of conducting their practice both with face to face sessions, and over
video, have been interviewed for the purpose of the research. Thematic analysis has
been used to identify patterns and meanings within the data set. Subsequently, three key
themes have been highlighted relating to this topic; (i) The challenges of introducing
video technology into the psychotherapeutic space, (ii) Managing the nuances of the cocreated
space over video, (iii) The requirement for psychotherapeutic modifications and
flexibility. This research suggests that there are challenges that are unique to this way
of working, yet also that there are instances where this way of working is proving to be
successful, if the therapist is able to adequately modify their therapeutic techniques to
its unique set of demands.
