Trainees’ Experiences of Providing Online Brief Psychological Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Main Authors: Villasanta, Angelique Pearl Virtue, Tabo-Corpuz, Chantal Ellis S
• Format: text
• Published: Archīum Ateneo 2021
• Subjects: Clinical Psychology; Counseling Psychology; Psychology; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://archium.ateneo.edu/bulatao-conferences/5
• Institution: Ateneo De Manila University

Mental health professionals are now in demand as the increased need for online counseling services continues to rise due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Abrams, 2020; Proust, 2021). Psychologists-in-training are called into service to help address the rising trend of mental health concerns (Department of Health, 2020). While previous literature highlighted the positive and negative experiences of psychologists-in-training in the areas of providing therapy, supervision, and enhancing competencies, there is a dearth of longitudinal research in the Asian countries, and more specifically, in the Filipino context. In this study, we sought to contribute to existing literature through exploring the experiences of psychologists-in-training as they deliver online brief therapy services in the Philippines during this COVID-19 pandemic. Using a longitudinal research design, we answered the following research questions: a.) What are the narratives of psychologists-in-training as they journey into becoming psychologists?, and b.) What are their narratives of providing brief therapy? We analyzed 71 monthly journals of trainees through Gilligan’s (2015) Listening Guide. Our findings highlight the difficulties, learnings, and breakthroughs that trainees experience in their journey of becoming psychologists and providing care. We discuss the implications of these findings on training, mentorship, and supervision.