Abstract
Introduction. Practicing psychologists need to adapt to new conditions of a forced transition to the online counseling. Until now, however, no data are available about adaptation to online counseling among Russian practicing psychologists during the COVID-19 pandemic; innovativeness among psychologists has been scarcely investigated. This study aims to identify the factors of adaptation to online counseling among psychologists during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main hypothesis is that psychologists’ innovative qualities are associated with their successful adaptation to online counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic. The additional hypotheses were that psychologists’ successful adaptation to online counseling is associated with work experience, region of residence, modality of counseling, and a positive attitude towards working from home. This study represents the first attempt to examine the factors of psychologists’ adaptation to online counseling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods. The study sample comprised 312 counseling psychologists from Russia. To examine adaptation and innovative qualities the authors used the original questionnaire for Studying Individual Attitudes Towards Innovation (N. M. Lebedeva, A. N. Tatarko). Descriptive statistics procedures, Chi-square test, and Cramer’s V test were used.
Results. Psychologists scored high on innovative qualities and had an average level of willingness to take risks for success. Psychologists’ innovative qualities are associated with successful adaptation to online counseling. No associations were found between adaptation and both work experience, and psychologists’ region of residence. Gestalt therapists scored highest on adaptation to the online format; cognitive-behavioral psychologists scored lowest. The assumption that there is an association between the modality of counseling and adaptation was confirmed. Positive attitudes towards working from home were generally associated with successful adaptation among psychologists. Counseling psychologists who had no problem with blurring the work/home boundaries enjoyed working from home.
Discussion. Well-developed innovative qualities, possibilities for comfortable working at home, and the modality of work contributed to successful adaptation to online counseling for most psychologists during the COVID-19 pandemic. Major recommendations for future research, as well as study limitations are discussed.
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