Clinical recommendations for psychotherapists working during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic through the lens of AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy)

ABSTRACT

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic created an unprecedented physical and mental health crisis on an international scale. Clients and therapists alike navigated the fears and uncertainty surrounding the virus, often in an environment of social isolation. The following paper presents a brief overview of the unique stressors and psychosocial factors impacting therapeutic work in the time of the coronavirus pandemic, including fears of the virus and social transmission, relational stressors due to isolation, grieving in isolation, fear of death, financial challenges, and the transition to telehealth. In addition, this paper aims to provide specific interventions and helpful approaches for psychotherapists navigating the novel challenges and demands to their clinical work through an AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy) perceptive. This includes finding an entry point for accessing the pain: undoing aloneness; moving through the pain: dyadic affect regulation; and paying close attention to vitality within suffering: searching for transformance. Recommendations for the health and care of the clinician are also discussed, such as attuning to self-needs, anticipating and detecting dysregulation, staying with the good, meaning-making, identifying and responding to burnout, and the importance of receiving personal therapy and clinical supervision.

KEYWORDS:

• Secondary trauma
• shared trauma
• mass trauma
• pandemic
• AEDP

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hillary L. McBride

Hillary L. McBride is  a  therapist in Vancouver, BC. She is a  sessional  instructor  in the  department of counselling psychology at the University of  British Columbia.

Andrew J. Joseph

Andrew J. Joseph is a therapist in private practice in New York City and a member of the research team at the AEDP Institute. He is currently training under the clinical supervision of Diana Fosha

Peter G. Schmitt

Peter G. Schmitt is a psychotherapist practicing in New York City. Peter works with patients at the Karen Horney Clinic and the Kull Initiative for Psychotherapy.

Brett M. Holtz

Brett M. Holtz is a student athlete at Columbia University majoring in psychology. He plans on pursuing his masters in mental health counseling.