TY - JOUR
T1 - Experiences of therapists conducting psychological assessments and video conferencing therapy sessions with people with mild intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic
AU - Oudshoorn, Cathelijn E. M.
AU - Frielink, Noud
AU - Riper, Heleen
AU - Embregts, Petri J. C. M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The British Society of Developmental Disabilities 2021.
Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Background. Due to the restrictive measures introduced to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, therapists working with people with mild intellectual disabilities have had to use video conferencing to continue to conduct their psychological assessments and therapy sessions. This qualitative study explored therapists’ experiences of using video conferencing during the initial lockdown period in the Netherlands. Method. In total, seven therapists working at a service organisation supporting people with intellectual disabilities participated in this qualitative study (M = 34.4 years; SD = 6.0, range: 26-42). The therapists documented their experiences via audio recordings, which were subsequently analysed using thematic analysis. Results. Five themes emerged: 1) An immediate transition to virtual working; 2) Developing virtual ways to support service users in both coping with COVID-19 related stress and with continuing therapy; 3) Lacking the appropriate equipment; 4) Limitations in virtually attuning to people with mild intellectual disabilities; and 5) Unforeseen opportunities for distance-based psychological assessments and therapy. Conclusions. This study provides valuable insights into the experiences of therapists using video conferencing to support people with mild intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. These insights can help inform clinical practice with respect to the use of video conferencing for psychological assessment and therapy with people with mild intellectual disabilities.
AB - Background. Due to the restrictive measures introduced to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, therapists working with people with mild intellectual disabilities have had to use video conferencing to continue to conduct their psychological assessments and therapy sessions. This qualitative study explored therapists’ experiences of using video conferencing during the initial lockdown period in the Netherlands. Method. In total, seven therapists working at a service organisation supporting people with intellectual disabilities participated in this qualitative study (M = 34.4 years; SD = 6.0, range: 26-42). The therapists documented their experiences via audio recordings, which were subsequently analysed using thematic analysis. Results. Five themes emerged: 1) An immediate transition to virtual working; 2) Developing virtual ways to support service users in both coping with COVID-19 related stress and with continuing therapy; 3) Lacking the appropriate equipment; 4) Limitations in virtually attuning to people with mild intellectual disabilities; and 5) Unforeseen opportunities for distance-based psychological assessments and therapy. Conclusions. This study provides valuable insights into the experiences of therapists using video conferencing to support people with mild intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. These insights can help inform clinical practice with respect to the use of video conferencing for psychological assessment and therapy with people with mild intellectual disabilities.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Intellectual disabilities
KW - assessment
KW - therapists’ experiences
KW - therapy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85114225250&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/20473869.2021.1967078
DO - 10.1080/20473869.2021.1967078
M3 - Article
SN - 2047-3869
JO - International Journal of Developmental Disabilities
JF - International Journal of Developmental Disabilities
ER -