Transitioning to virtual programming amidst COVID-19 outbreak

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted many mental health care providers to quickly reorganize their operations and services in an effort to continue serving their clientele while also ensuring the health and safety of their patients and staff. Over the course of five days (beginning 15 March 2020), the McLean OCD Institute at Houston (MOCDI-H) transitioned from providing three levels of care in-person to conducting intensive outpatient and traditional outpatient programming completely online. Through the teamwork of all members of the MOCDI-H staff and in collaboration with our patients and their families, we were able to develop virtual programming and make a smooth transition with minimal disruption to patient care. This article aims to describe how we facilitated our clinical transition in a quick and effective manner and became the first program within the OCD community to transition to teletherapy. An anecdotal exploration of the benefits and challenges experienced for patient care and providers is offered. Future directions and implications associated with the change from in-person sessions to teletherapy are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Teletherapy
• OCD
• virtual intensive programming
• Covid-19
• telehealth

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Alejandra Sequeira

All the authors of this manuscript work at the McLean OCD Institute//Houston and specialize in the treatment of OCD and anxiety related disorders.

Alejandra Sequeira, PhD, is a Counseling Psychologist and specializes in treating adolescents and young adults.

Adaeze Alozie works as a Residential Counselor and plans to further her education by obtaining her Master’s in Clinical Psychology.

Melissa Fasteau, PsyD, is a Clinical Psychologist who specializes in treating OCD and anxiety disorders with a co-morbid Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Alicia K. Lopez is a Residential Counselor whose research interests focus on the processes and mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of OCD and anxiety-related disorders.

Jennifer Sy, PhD, is a Clinical Psychologist.

Karina A. Turner, MA, serves as both Research Coordinator and Residential Counselor.

Cali Werner, LMSW, is a clinician whose research interests focus on athletes’ repetitive and ritualistic performance inhibiting behaviors.

Elizabeth McIngvale is the director of the McLean OCD Institute//Houston and the founder of The Peace of Mind Foundation. Dr. McIngvale actively engages in advocacy around mental illness, stigma and access to care.

Thröstur Björgvinsson, PhD, is the Founder of the Houston OCD Program (now McLean OCD Institute//Houston) and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School.