Potentials and Challenges of Online Psychological Care during the Covid-19 Pandemic from the Perspective of Professionals

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted society, including the provision of mental health care services. Restriction and social isolation measures have made psychology professionals adapt, respecting the standards prepared by the Federal Council of Psychology that regulate psychological services provided through Information and Communication Technologies. The present study aimed to investigate the potential and challenges of psychology professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve this, a focus group was carried out with seven psychologists and professors of the Psychology course at a Federal University in the northern region of the country. The reports were analyzed through thematic analysis, categorized into (1) online service as a new field of possibilities and expansion of horizons, (2) learning about online service through the use of Communication and Information Technologies (ICTs) and (3) referrals after the online service and its challenges. The results showed that professionals have adapted to the new reality and requirement of social distancing for the provision of mental health services to the population, realized the need to teach this modality to students, so that there is better theoretical-technical and ethical training and corroborate with previous studies that Information and Communication Technology (ICTs) are mediation tools to be used between the psychologist and the person assisted in health promotion.