Entering terra incognita: Adapting Psychotherapists to Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Sudden historical events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, may critically change the circumstances in which psychotherapy is conducted. The objective of this study was to analyze Polish psychodynamic psychotherapists’ experiences of working with patients at the onset of the pandemic and hence to understand the process of their coping with the external reality challenges. 183 Polish psychotherapists (160 women and 23 men) aged 26-66 years (average 38) completed a survey about their therapeutic work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were analyzed in accordance with Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis framework. Five general themes were identified: (1) Facing a taboo; (2) One must work well (despite having doubts); (3) COVID-19 as the “Third”; (4) Who am I, what am I doing; and (5) Who is the author of the therapeutic principles? The themes show dilemmas that emerged in a psychotherapeutic community that explored a previously non-practiced form of work in the context of the pandemic. These experiences can reflect more general phenomena of the therapists’ adapting to unexpected yet critical external circumstances. Both a personal willingness to seek solutions flexibly and to remain in a dialogue with the professional community is an integral part of this process.