Digital Technologies in Psychological Practice: a European Survey on Use, Attitudes, and Training

The use of digital tools in mental healthcare is rapidly expanding. However, many psychologists lack the training and support to incorporate these technologies into their clinical practice effectively. METHODS: A multilingual online survey was developed and distributed among psychologists across Europe to examine current practices, attitudes, and educational needs related to the use of digital mental health tools. RESULTS: The survey is still live and collecting responses. The current preliminary results from 620 psychologists (age M = 47.03, 77% women) showed that 90% used some form of technology in their practice: 1) online consultations (78%), 2) chat or text-based therapy(23%), 3) digital interventions (e.g., websites, apps) (42%), 4) immersive technologies (e.g., virtual reality, augmented reality…) (9%), 5) wearables (e.g., Fitbit, Apple Watch, Oura ring) (11%), 6) artificial intelligence - chatbots (17%), 7) artificial intelligence - other tools (12%), or 8) other (3%). Most used only one type of technology in their practice (43%), while a third of all respondents reported having used at least two types. The vast majority had received no formal training on how to use technologies for psychological practice, with almost half of the respondents feeling unqualified. Finally, 76% reported interest in receiving training on digital mental health. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that digital technologies play a part in psychological practice. We discuss the possible solution of introducing a ‘digital navigator’ to bridge the gap between the need and availability of training in using digital technologies for psychological practice.