Opportunities and Challenges of Distance Learning: The Case of an Italian Psychotherapy Training School

Distance learning has proven to be crucial for the safeguarding of high-level educational programs around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has represented an accelerator of the digital revolution of education, offering new possibilities but also posing new challenges. In this chapter, the case of an Italian psychotherapy training school has been analyzed to gain knowledge on the transition to digital education. The results have shown a general negative evaluation of online learning, especially for practice-oriented clinical training, due to the impoverishment of the social interaction with peers and educators. Further, the negative evaluation appeared partially related to individual wellbeing across the psychological and social-relationship sphere. Finally, despite the challenges posed by online learn- ing, participants revealed an increased willingness to take part to online education. Hence, the current results suggest a reflection on the future of distance learning, calling for a more systematic approach to the education of professionals.