Dr Stéphane Bouchard | Ep 16

In today’s episode of Confessions of a CyberPsychologist, I chat to Dr Stéphane Bouchard about Video-based Telepsychotherapy. Stéphane shared his journey from clinical psychologist to a pioneer in video-based therapies, exploring the transformative potential of telepsychotherapy and its impact on mental health care.

The Origin of Video-Based Telepsychotherapy

• Stéphane began using telepsychotherapy in the 1990s to overcome geographical challenges in delivering CBT to patients with anxiety and agoraphobia in remote areas.
• Early efforts involved using cumbersome, specialised videoconference units long before the convenience of internet-based tools like Zoom.

Telepsychotherapy vs. Traditional Therapy

• Telepsychotherapy is as effective as face-to-face therapy for many disorders, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. However, evidence varies for other conditions like personality disorders or issues without established gold-standard treatments.
• It offers greater accessibility and patient autonomy, allowing clients to choose therapists based on expertise rather than location.

The Role of Telepresence

• Telepresence, or the feeling of “being together” despite physical separation, is critical to the therapeutic alliance in telepsychotherapy.
• Minor disruptions like technology glitches can impair telepresence, but it doesn’t need to be perfect for therapy to be effective.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

• Privacy and Security: Ensuring confidentiality is paramount, especially when sessions occur in non-traditional settings like cars or family rooms. Therapists should use secure, encrypted platforms and establish safety protocols for clients in potentially harmful situations.
• Hybrid Models: While telepsychotherapy offers flexibility, face-to-face options remain important for those who prefer in-person interactions or whose conditions may benefit from it.
• Zoom Fatigue: Staring at screens and processing limited non-verbal cues can be taxing, highlighting the importance of managing therapy schedules thoughtfully.

Emerging Trends and Technology

• Telepsychotherapy has shifted therapy from a geographically bound service to a personalised, accessible model. However, the public sector must adapt funding structures to support this change.
• The future may see virtual reality therapy enhancing telepsychotherapy, though technical and ethical challenges remain.

Ethics and Media Representation

• Stéphane emphasised the need for mental health professionals to guide the development of telepsychotherapy tools, ensuring clinical needs and ethical standards drive innovation.
• He also highlighted the importance of critically evaluating media representations of cyberpsychology research and encouraged direct engagement with original studies.

Recommended Reading

Closing Thoughts

This insightful conversation underscored the transformative potential of telepsychotherapy in making mental health services more inclusive and accessible. Stéphane expertise illuminated both the promise and the challenges of this evolving field.