Understanding Therapeutic Experience: A Qualitative Evaluation of Virtual and In-Person Treatment

Introduction Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there was adoption of virtual psychotherapy. There are a number of benefits and drawbacks to telehealth video conferencing that are experienced by both clients and clinicians. The current qualitative study sought to outline the advantages and disadvantages that clients and clinicians have personally experienced in virtual versus in-person therapy in an effort to identify the reasons for which one medium may be preferred over another. Methods The research was conducted from March 20, 2023, to April 3, 2023. The interviews with 32 individuals (14 clients and 18 clinicians) took place via Zoom video conferencing. Thematic analysis of the empirical material was conducted until fit and significance were met. Application of empirical principles of qualitative research was complete when categories were saturated, and no new themes had emerged. Results Results indicated that virtual care is appreciated for its convenience and ease, which allows clients to attend sessions even when physical barriers limit them (i.e., sickness, vacation, and between meetings or classes). In terms of maximizing the therapeutic process, this study found that in-person care has a number of benefits that are weakened or diminished when one switches to a virtual setting. Being in-person was reported to have a significant therapeutic impact in terms of attendance, engagement, participation, understanding nonverbal communications, and developing rapport with one's clinician and fellow clients. Conclusion The results of this study present an overview of client and clinician perceptions of the therapeutic impact of modes of therapy (virtual, in-person). While there is no strong evidence to suggest that one mode of care is clinically indicated over the other, the data outlines the benefits and drawbacks of both.