Date
10-16-2025
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Gilbert Franco
Keywords
Job satisfaction, commitment, leader-member exchange, work-life boundaries, telehealth, industrial/organizational, remote, hybrid
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Trout, Justin C., "Telehealth Therapist’s Satisfaction and Commitment" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7566.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7566
Abstract
Job satisfaction and commitment have been important topics for Industrial-Organizational psychologists for decades. However, little research has examined these concepts within the world of telehealth therapists. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing, the mental health field has expanded over into remote platforms, giving therapists the opportunity to work from home. The impact of COVID-19 on remote work was significant, and when in-person services resumed, therapists expressed continuing to work remotely, valuing flexibility and autonomy. Recognizing the importance of understanding this phenomenon from the perspective of the individuals who have experienced it, this study used a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences and satisfaction of remote therapists with providing telehealth services. Data was collected from 13 participants through semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis provided insight into themes, such as reliability, rapport-building, isolation, emotional exhaustion, and work-life balance. The participants shared the benefits of working remotely. While many agreed that this improved their quality of work-life, satisfaction and commitment, they also identified some of the more significant challenges, which included screen fatigue, inconsistent organizational support, and lack of structure. Despite these challenges, telehealth therapists reported a strong sense of purpose and professional identity. The findings are critical for I-O psychology by providing insights to improve remote work. This research suggests that when remote therapists have an overall sense of well-being, which includes support, structure, and work-life balance, then their job satisfaction and commitment improve.
