3.2.1. Benefits

A total of *n* = 56 respondents (25.8%) reported the benefits of remote psychotherapy. Figure 2 displays the allocated subcategories.

*N* = 6 (2.8%) commented positively that therapies could also be provided in the case of illness. For high-risk patients and pregnant patients, the risk of infection through travel and face-to-face contact in the practice was eliminated. An important subcategory, mentioned by *n* = 39 (18%) respondents, addresses the flexibility enabled by remote psychotherapy. Respondents reported that they were able to offer appointments more flexibly than usual, even at short notice. This proved beneficial in crises or for patients who needed a higher frequency of sessions. The possibility of fitting sessions in between appointments proved helpful for psychotherapists and patients in scheduling sessions, as did the fact that there was no need to travel to and from the practice. Mothers of younger children, in particular, benefited from increased flexibility. Spatial independence ensured that business trips, study abroad, and even vacations were no longer an obstacle to offering or attending psychotherapy. Other *n* = 20 (9.2%) respondents observed remote sessions to be more comfortable both for themselves and their patients. Clothing, food, drink, and not having to go out in bad weather were mentioned, as well as being unobserved on the phone. *N* = 6 (2.8%) mentioned other advantages, for example, having more resources available at home, such as books for consultation, or being able to maintain a professional distance more easily.

**Figure 4.** Percentage of respondents who experienced various difficulties of remote psychotherapy. The number in parentheses after the subcategory name indicates the number of coded text passages.

**Figure 5.** Percentage of respondents who reported modifications of the setting. The number in parentheses after the subcategory name indicates the number of coded text passages.

Frequencies of all investigated subcategories did not differ between female and male psychotherapists (*p* ≥ 0.112).
