Telepsychology in an University Psychological Care Center during COVID-19: Consultants and Students’ Experiences

During the last decades, the use of Telepsychology as a tool for mental health care has experienced a significant rise worldwide. Despite the existence of teleconsultation services in Colombia, few studies about it have been published. As a result of the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Telepsychology care service was implemented in a university psychological care center. The goal of this study is to characterize the care experiences of the Telepsychology modality from the point of view of the consultants and students in their clinical practice. This with the purpose of enhancing the knowledge in this area and contributing to the evaluation of the viability of these services. A descriptive characterization study was carried out, with a cross-sectional design. The research team elaborated a questionnaire, that was answered by 253 consultants and 77 students. The information obtained evidenced that Telepsychology care achieved high levels of satisfaction with the treatment received, the possibility of establishing a therapeutic bond and the development of clinical skills in students. Therefore, this care modality was an alternative to remove boundaries to health care.