Clients' experiences of online CBT after the most recent lockdown
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What are clients' experiences of receiving online cognitive behavioural therapy after the most recent lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic?
IRAS ID
322230
Contact name
Ashlee Whittingham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
City, University of London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
Towards the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, measures proposed by governments caused a rapid shift between online therapy being the minority to the predominant method of therapeutic interventions. This is because therapists who were working face-to-face began working online. Research to date on online therapy in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic look at therapists’ attitudes, perceptions and experiences of it, mostly during the lockdown period of March to June 2020. There is however limited research investigating the attitudes or experiences of 'clients' receiving remote therapy during the pandemic. Research has also shown that the type of therapy used affects the type of difficulties encountered.
As clients are underrepresented, this research aims to investigate their experiences on receiving online therapy. In addition, as the pandemic is entering a more stable phase, this research aims to look into experiences after the lockdown of the pandemic as this may provide further insight. As cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is structured in nature and had concerns from therapists, this research aims to investigate clients’ experiences on receiving remote CBT after the most recent lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The two-year research aims to use qualitative methods and collect data using semi-structured interviews conducted online. Seven - ten clients will be interviewed for up to 90 minutes about their subjective experiences on receiving online therapy. Clients will have received a course of at least 6 sessions of CBT in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) in the NHS. Interviews will be audio recorded and answers to interview questions will be transcribed. Data will be analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA), a qualitative approach which aims to provide detailed examinations of personal lived experience. The research hopes to provide insight on client experiences of online therapy to guide the future use of online therapy. Results can hopefully be used to inform and guide professionals in practice.
REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/PR/0358
Date of REC Opinion
27 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion