Abstract
When colleges closed in spring 2020 due to COVID-19, students’ face-to-face counseling moved to teletherapy. There is limited research on students’ satisfaction with teletherapy and the possible benefits over traditional therapy for some students, especially with considerations of diversity and inclusion. This study explored the experiences of 21 students who participated in teletherapy during academic year 2020-2021. Satisfaction levels were measured using the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire-8. SPSS was used to analyze quantitative data and grounded theory was used to analyze qualitative responses. The response rate was 25.9%. Results indicated high satisfaction levels with teletherapy (mean=29.4, out of a possible 32). Participants were mostly women 81%, between 18-21 years (57%), Asian American (62%), Latinx (19%), white (10%) and other (10%). Satisfaction levels with teletherapy compared favorably with a prior study regarding student satisfaction with traditional therapy (mean=29.8). However, in comparison, teletherapy participants were more likely to be younger and Asian than in-person counseling participants (mean age=26.2, 52.2% white, 27.0% Asian, 18.3% Latinx, and 3.0% other). Qualitative responses focused on appreciation for the therapy sessions or the therapist. The use of technology in therapy was reported as both a strength and a weakness in the counseling experience. It appears that some students may experience higher levels of satisfaction with teletherapy than others. Future research is needed in this area. Limitations include a small sample size and lack of generalizability.
Presenters
Christine B. KleinpeterProfessor, School of Social Work, California State University, Long Beach, California, United States Elizabeth Pringle Hornsby
CalSWEC Project Coordinator/Lecturer, Social Work, California State University, Long Beach, California, United States John R. Kleinpeter
Professor, Department of Design, California State University, Long Beach, California, United States Jo Brocato, LCSW,CAP
Professor, School of Social Work, California State University, Long Beach, California, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Health Promotion and Education
KEYWORDS
College Mental Health, Teletherapy, Student Satisfaction
