TY - JOUR
T1 - Added value or added burden? A qualitative investigation of blending internet self-help with face-to-face cognitive behaviour therapy for depression
AU - Cerga-Pashoja, Arlinda
AU - Doukani, Asmae
AU - Gega, Linda
AU - Walke, Jennifer
AU - Araya, Ricardo
PY - 2020/11/16
Y1 - 2020/11/16
N2 - Objectives: Numerous studies and reviews have explored the value of adding therapist support to internet self-help for improving client adherence and outcomes. This study is different as it explores the value of adding internet self-help to face-to-face therapy, from the perspective of practitioners who used both. This study explores practitioners’ experiences of whether—and how—internet self-help blended with face-to-face therapy may confer an added value or become an added burden to their routine practice. Methods: Using a structured topic guide, we collected narrative data via 3 focus groups and 1 telephone interview from 11 practitioners across two sites in England. We carried out a thematic analysis within two domains, “value vs. burden”. Results: Practitioners reported that internet self-help can confer added value to face-to-face therapy by: fostering client engagement with face-to-face sessions; making therapy ubiquitous beyond sessions; and preventing therapeutic drift between sessions. Conversely, internet self-help can add burden to face-to-face therapy when it is experienced as disruptive, overwhelming and time-consuming. Conclusions: Recognizing and mitigating factors that can turn internet self-help from an added value to an added burden will help practitioners adopt and make the most out of blended therapy.
AB - Objectives: Numerous studies and reviews have explored the value of adding therapist support to internet self-help for improving client adherence and outcomes. This study is different as it explores the value of adding internet self-help to face-to-face therapy, from the perspective of practitioners who used both. This study explores practitioners’ experiences of whether—and how—internet self-help blended with face-to-face therapy may confer an added value or become an added burden to their routine practice. Methods: Using a structured topic guide, we collected narrative data via 3 focus groups and 1 telephone interview from 11 practitioners across two sites in England. We carried out a thematic analysis within two domains, “value vs. burden”. Results: Practitioners reported that internet self-help can confer added value to face-to-face therapy by: fostering client engagement with face-to-face sessions; making therapy ubiquitous beyond sessions; and preventing therapeutic drift between sessions. Conversely, internet self-help can add burden to face-to-face therapy when it is experienced as disruptive, overwhelming and time-consuming. Conclusions: Recognizing and mitigating factors that can turn internet self-help from an added value to an added burden will help practitioners adopt and make the most out of blended therapy.
KW - blended approach
KW - cognitive behaviour therapy
KW - depression
KW - digital mental health
KW - qualitative research methods
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85079047383&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10503307.2020.1720932
DO - 10.1080/10503307.2020.1720932
M3 - Article
SN - 1050-3307
VL - 30
SP - 998
EP - 1010
JO - PSYCHOTHERAPY RESEARCH
JF - PSYCHOTHERAPY RESEARCH
IS - 8
ER -
