Adapting an Evidence-Based Group Intervention for Trauma in Telehealth Practice
摘要
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the accessibility of behavioral and mental health services for many across the world. The need for supportive services was more indicated than ever before, yet very few individuals had access to effective continuity of care during this time. Many services ceased and millions of people went without needed services due to the lack of access to telehealth services, and due to the lack of preparedness of the mental health practitioner population to adapt services to a digital format. This research focuses on one specific evidence-based intervention that was offered to at-risk youth via a telehealth format. The study assesses the impact of the Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) intervention on youth who received services via telehealth and those who received the services via live face-to-face service delivery. This was a comparative analysis, which yielded that the CBITS intervention was just as successful when facilitated in a virtual platform as when provided in the traditional in-person modality. Findings of this study shows the positive impact that tele-behavioral health processes can have on at-risk youth populations, and how continuity of care can be maintained even during a global pandemic.