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New training for therapists delivering therapy online

Published in Press Releases on January 29th 2021

Pierre Cachia lecturing in front of screen

Tavistock continues to provide training and advice to therapists using our experience working online. The latest is a new video by Pierre Cachia.

Tavistock Relationships, the internationally renowned charity which offers training in counselling, psychotherapy and psychosexual therapy, is offering a new online counselling and psychotherapy training video: ‘Facilitating the Therapeutic Connection in Online Therapy – The Four Domains’ with Dr Pierre Cachia, DCplPsych.

As well as providing training, Tavistock Relationships has over 120 highly-trained therapists providing a psychotherapeutic approach to resolving relationship challenges, and delivering more than 21,000 counselling sessions each year. In 2016 the organisation launched its online therapy service, which grew steadily and delivered 1,281 sessions from April 2019 to March 2020.

Dr Pierre Cachia, Couple Psychanalytic Psychotherapist and Head of Tavistock Relationships’ Online Therapy Service, explains:

“Tavistock Relationships had already run thousands of online therapy sessions before the first lockdown began last March, allowing us to quickly transfer more than 350 cases online.

“To support therapists delivering therapy online, and drawing on my own clinical and supervisory experience, our new training video ‘Facilitating the Therapeutic Connection in Online Therapy – The Four Domains’, offers an analysis of the benefits and pitfalls of ongoing psychotherapeutic work online.

“Consideration is given to the ways in which the spatial domains of therapist and patient intersect, as well as the technological aspects that can problematize or enhance the therapeutic encounter, and to ways in which the psychology of cyberspace may impact on therapeutic work.

“I focus the discussion around four domains, which are understood to reflect a certain quality of experience: the therapist’s domain, the patient’s domain, the technological domain and the psychological domain.

“It’s important for therapists to remain curious about these domains, and hold in mind an appreciation of the potential effects of the camera’s gaze for therapist and patient alike.”

Dr Cachia summarises the best outcomes for online therapy are secured by:

  • Avoiding the pitfalls of attempting to replicate face-to-face environments;
  • Being sensitive to the limits of the online medium;
  • Exploiting the advantages it offers; and
  • Getting the basics right.

‘Facilitating the Therapeutic Connection in Online Therapy – The Four Domains’ costs £35 for three months access.

This online self-directed learning course is a follow-up to Cachia’s successful three-part series, ‘Online Therapy: How to Make the Transition to Working Online & How to Develop Good Practice’.

View information about Tavistock Relationships’ online courses.

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For more press information contact:

John Fenna, Head of Marketing & Communications
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Paula Scott, PR consultant
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Debbie Walker, PR Consultant
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Notes to Editors

Established in 1948, Tavistock Relationships is a registered charity internationally renowned for delivering and developing advanced practice, training and research in therapeutic and psycho-educational approaches to supporting couples. www.tavistockrelationships.org @TaviRelations

Dr Pierre Cachia DCplPsych first joined Tavistock Relationships in 2007 as a trainee on the MA in couple psychotherapy, and subsequently undertook doctoral research in the field. Since 2013 he has formed part of the clinical leadership while retaining an active role in training. He led the setting up of the Online Couple Psychotherapy Service, which he currently heads and supervises. He is a qualified counselling psychologist, psychoanalytic couple psychotherapist, individual psychotherapist and clinical supervisor.

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