Pandemic Times and the Experience of Online EMDR Practice in Greece: A Qualitative Study on Obstacles and Perspectives

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a biopsychosocial impact on the Greek mental health system by worsening symptoms of depression and stress in the general population. As the need for mental health services increased, the pandemic strongly affected EMDR practice, and training which was mainly online, during 2020. In a small sample consisting of 40 EMDR practitioners, a brief online questionnaire was administered concerning the obstacles that professionals believe they face doing online EMDR therapy in Greece during the pandemic. A conventional qualitative analysis was conducted on the respondents’ feedback by coding the content. Among others, the results showed two categories of practical and psychosocial defects in the efficient application of online EMDR practice. Lack of physical contact, poor application of bilateral stimulation based on technical difficulties, poor computer skills, and physical exhaustion due to continuous lockdown were some of the content subcategories. The results are discussed concerning the current context of the pandemic and local characteristics. Moreover, practical implications for online EMDR practice are discussed.