Grupos terapêuticos on-line: produções científicas e vivências profissionais

Abstract

In recent years, driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant increase in both demand and supply for online psychological services, even among professionals who initially expressed skepticism and concerns about their validity. Scientific productions, however, have emphasized individual interventions compared to group interventions. In this sense, in order to contribute to expanding perspectives in the area of online psychotherapies, the objective was to investigate scientific productions and the experiences of professionals who practice therapeutic groups with the mediation of internet-based information and communication technologies. To this end, the Dissertation was structured into two studies: Study 1 aimed to investigate the panorama of how online therapeutic groups, synchronous and hybrid, have been developed and reported in national and international literature. To this end, an integrative review of the literature was carried out in the period between 2012 and 2022. The search for information was conducted through the databases PsycInfo, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Virtual Health Library. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 34 articles were included, with an average of 3.4 articles published per year. The most common theoretical approach adopted by the authors was Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Different ways of conceiving online group work were observed, in addition to different terminologies and objectives in group therapeutic processes developed in this format. The exposed scenario showed that online group psychological care is promising, especially in situations in which face-to-face care is unfeasible. Study 2 aimed to investigate professional performance and experiences in coordinating synchronous online therapeutic groups. The research was based on the clinical-qualitative method, in which 12 psychologists participated. Data production took place through a semi-directed interview carried out via Google Meet, lasting an average of 60 minutes. The analysis and interpretation of the narratives were carried out in five stages, according to the method mentioned above. Different forms of professional performance were identified, as well as challenges related to the scenario of digital technologies and the respective theoretical-technical management in relation to patient demands. The participants' experiences were initially marked by challenges and doubts, which were and have been given new meanings. It is suggested that future studies may include the asynchronous communication mode to expand the findings presented, given that these resources not only offer support to synchronous groups, but also integrate the daily lives of psychologists and their patients.