Connecting in a Remote World: Psychotherapy & Counselling Students’ Experiences of Remote Teaching and Learning

Authors

Geraldine Sheedy, Department of Applied Social Studies, Munster Technological University (MTU), Cork, IrelandFollow

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9927-7963

Document Type

Article

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Disciplines

Counseling | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences

Publication Details

European Journal of Psychotherapy and Counselling. © 2024 The Author(s).

Abstract

In 2017 Scholl et al. highlighted a growing trend towards online courses in Psychotherapy & Counselling training. With the emergence of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this growth has accelerated, with more training now taking place in an online setting. This study explored students’ experiences of remote learning on a Psychotherapy & Counselling training, with a particular focus on engagement and interaction in an online setting. A Thematic Analysis was carried out on the data and the central organising theme of Connection emerged. Three sub-themes were identified including, ‘Connection to Self’, ‘Connection to Others’ and ‘Connection to Lecturers’. Findings indicate that connection can be nurtured online through intentional and considered instruction. Findings also suggest that students miss the personal connections that face-to-face teaching affords with a preference for a blended approach to learning. The results are used to make specific recommendations for Counselling & Psychotherapy educators.

Recommended Citation

Geraldine Sheedy (2024) Connecting in a remote world: Psychotherapy & counselling students’ experiences of remote teaching and learning, European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling, DOI: 10.1080/13642537.2024.2318634