Clinical Psychology and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed Methods Survey Among Members of the European Association of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment (EACLIPT)

Authors

  • Julia Asbrand Orcid
    Department of Psychology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Samantha Gerdes Orcid
    NHS Veterans’ Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, Camden and Islington NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom
  • Josefien Breedvelt Orcid
    NatCen Social Research, London, United Kingdom; Centre for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Jenny Guidi Orcid
    Department of Psychology "Renzo Canestrari", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
  • Colette Hirsch Orcid
    Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Denmark Hill, Camberwell, London, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre, South London and Maudsley Hospital, London, United Kingdom; South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, Camberwell, London, United Kingdom
  • Andreas Maercker Orcid
    Department of Psychology, Division of Psychopathology and Clinical Intervention, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Wissenschaftskolleg Berlin–Institute of Advanced Study, Berlin, Germany
  • Céline Douilliez Orcid
    Université catholique de Louvain, Psychological Sciences Research Institute, Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium
  • Gerhard Andersson Orcid
    Department of Behavioral Sciences and Learning, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Division of Psychiatry, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  • Martin Debbané Orcid
    Psychoanalysis Unit, Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, United Kingdom; Developmental Clinical Psychology Unit, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Roman Cieslak Orcid
    Department of Psychology, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Warsaw, Poland
  • Winfried Rief Orcid
    Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany
  • Claudi Bockting Orcid
    Centre for Urban Mental Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (location AMC), Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people globally both physically and psychologically. The increased demands for mental health interventions provided by clinical psychologists, psychotherapists and mental health care professionals, as well as the rapid change in work setting (e.g., from face-to-face to video therapy) has proven challenging. The current study investigates European clinical psychologists and psychotherapists’ views on the changes and impact on mental health care that occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It further aims to explore individual and organizational processes that assist clinical psychologists’ and psychotherapists’ in their new working conditions, and understand their needs and priorities. Method: Members of the European Association of Clinical Psychology and Psychological Treatment (EACLIPT) were invited (N = 698) to participate in a survey with closed and open questions covering their experiences during the first wave of the pandemic from June to September 2020. Participants (n = 92) from 19 European countries, mostly employed in universities or hospitals, completed the online survey. Results: Results of qualitative and quantitative analyses showed that clinical psychologists and psychotherapists throughout the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic managed to continue to provide treatments for patients who were experiencing emotional distress. The challenges (e.g., maintaining a working relationship through video treatment) and opportunities (e.g., more flexible working hours) of working through this time were identified. Conclusions: Recommendations for mental health policies and professional organizations are identified, such as clear guidelines regarding data security and workshops on conducting video therapy.