TABLE 1.

Key findings: Positive and negative aspects of video‐consults (compared with face‐to‐face sessions) in a mental healthcare setting

Clients n = 209	Advantages	Disadvantages	Recommendations for clients
	Feeling more at ease at home	Experiencing more distance and less personal contact because non‐verbal communication is missing, which makes it difficult to open up and express feelings	Pay attention to your position on the screen, for example, far enough to show body posture, but close enough to show emotional expressions
	No travel time saves energy	No travel time means less time to reflect, prepare and let go before and after a session	Make time and space for a session. For example, by taking a walk before and after the session or reserving a quiet spot in the house for therapy, where you can leave difficult thoughts and emotions afterwards

Therapists n = 30	Advantages	Disadvantages	Recommendations for therapists
	With some clients, more physical distance facilitates professional distance and to intervene early on	Missing non‐verbal (informal and physical) contact makes it difficult to let clients express their feelings	Take time to slowly build up and ease out of the session by starting with a relaxation/focus exercise and ending with more informal talk. Allowing moments of silence, as one would do in a face‐to‐face session, to create room for emotions
	Seeing more of the clients' home situation	Missing support from colleagues to reflect and let go and being more exhausted at the end of the day	Good self‐care is more important than ever. Sit relaxed, do not bend over to the screen. Get enough movement and fresh air and stay in contact with colleagues. Try to balance video‐consults with other forms of therapy, such as internet‐based treatment modules