Telepsychotherapy with children and families: Lessons gleaned from two decades of translational research

Abstract

<p>The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, has led to sweeping changes in psychological practice and the concomitant rapid uptake of telepsychotherapy. Although telepsychotherapy is new to many clinical psychologists, there is considerable research on telepsychotherapy treatments. Nearly two decades of clinical research on telepsychotherapy treatments with children with neurological conditions has the potential to inform emerging clinical practice in the age of COVID-19. Toward that end, we synthesized findings from 14 clinical trials of telepsychotherapy problemsolving and parent training interventions involving more than 800 children and families with diverse diagnoses including traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, brain tumors, congenital heart disease, and perinatal stroke. We summarize efficacy across studies and clinical populations and report feasibility and acceptability data from the perspectives of parents, children, and therapists. We describe adaptation for international contexts and strategies for troubleshooting technological challenges and working with families of varying socioeconomic strata. The extensive research literature reviewed and synthesized provides considerable support for the utility of telepsychotherapy with children with neurological conditions and their families and underscores its high level of acceptability with both diverse clinical populations and providers. During this period of heightened vulnerability and stress and reduced access to usual supports and services, telepsychotherapy approaches such as online family problem-solving treatment and online parenting skills training may allow psychologists to deliver traditional evidence-based treatments virtually while preserving fidelity and efficacy.</p>

Implementing Group Parent Training in Telepsychology: Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Promising approaches have included (a) the use of webinars and other parent-paced learning tools ( DuPaul et al., 2018 ) and (b) individualized therapy using telepsychology ( Gurwitch et al., 2020 ; Sibley et al., 2017 ). Recent research has further illustrated that individualized BPT can be delivered effectively in other populations experiencing similar needs (e.g., parenting-related stress, Riegler et al., 2020 ; family adjustment to neurological conditions, Wade et al., 2020 ). Emerging evidence also supports implementation of group parenting interventions using telepsychology ( Reese et al., 2015 ; Xie et al., 2013 ).…”

Telepsychotherapy in the age of COVID-19: A commentary.

“…Again, a pragmatic approach building from existing evidence base has much to offer. In reviewing their use of telepsychotherapy treatments with children with neurological conditions and their families,Wade et al (2020) offer a strong evidence base, both in terms of effectiveness and in process-driven adaptations for delivery of telepsychotherapy to children and families. Their broad overview grounded in two decades of implementation research offers important insights into effective approaches for young people and families including online family problem-solving treatment and online parenting skills training.…”

“Building” the Twenty-First Century Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

“…During the pandemic, more CAP training programs used telepsychiatry (compared to approximately 60% prepandemic), teletherapy, app-based therapies, short-term interventions, and CC [28]. Innovative web-based transdiagnostic therapies are both feasible and acceptable in youth [29]. Trainees can also provide valuable input for their own training as they likely receive their own healthcare via telehealth and may have lived experiences as minorities.…”