The challenges and recommendations for conducting trauma-focused online psychotherapy in Malaysia

COVID-19 has been defined as one of the biggest collective traumas faced by the human population worldwide. Thus, there is a need for trauma-focused psychotherapy during the pandemic. Due to the highly transmissive virus, the safest and most realistic option for conducting trauma-focused psychotherapy was through online platforms, since then online psychotherapy has been one of the most preferred ways of conducting psychotherapy. The current article reviewed available literature, to illustrate different potential challenges and obstacles mental-health practitioners face when providing trauma-focused online psychotherapy in Malaysia. These challenges are categorized into (a) ethical issues, (b) therapeutic relationships and environment, (c) techniques, and (d) psychotherapists' self-care. Practical research-driven suggestions were provided to tackle these challenges.