Online Counselling?

[Jenny]

Hi all,

Just wondering what you're feelings are about online counselling?

I am asking because i have been doing some research on google re counselling and have come across a fair few counsellors who are offering counselling via the internet, i.e. via email.

I can see that this would be useful for those who are unable to find a counsellor close to where they live... or if they're unable to leave the house, etc. So in that respect i think it could be a very good thing - at least they'd have someone to "talk" to.

But a part of me is also thinking there'd be something fundamental lacking. To me, counselling is just as much about the relationship between the counsellor and the client as anything else.. and without that face to face contact i wonder how that works out.

I am not knocking it, as i'm certain it is very useful to a lot of people are unable to make face to face sessions for whatever reason.. am just thinking outloud :)

Anyway, has anyone tried online counselling or even been an online counsellor or thinking of offering this service also?

xx

[funk]

Hello Jenny!

On the one hand, i agree with you:
Online counseling can be useful, if you are not able to find a counsellor that fits in your area, or if you are too "shy" to go irl to one.
And of course, it could help to begin a therapie, at least you know the kind of way a person types.


But on the other hand, i think that there are a few problems with that, too:
Email/or online contact in general is pretty difficult, because it is just a medium which has some lacks. You are not able to provide feelings, posture and other things on this way. Then, the therapist would take a role in the system of his client, play part with it somehow: Like, if someone is afraid of virus and avoids touching things and so i doubt, that a therapist would help him to avoid that while being around with him - he would make a cut and not support the "paranoia".

[TDM]

It's possible. Kids Help Line in Australia offers an online counselling service, and it's actually pretty good, if you can get past the long waiting times. It is very different from face to face counselling obviously, but it has its own advantages too. Some people would be too daunted to go out and see someone but if they could do it from their own home it would be a different story. I think its more of a stepping stone if anything, but it could also be a long term option too, if used with other more conventional methods.

From experience I've found it useful because I say a lot more if I'm not actjally saying it. The down side is that you can't tell someone's tone of voice, body language, anything like that... you dont really win either way because they all have their own pros and cons.

TDM

[Jenny]

Have found this article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6442191.stm) on the BBC website that talks about online counselling and whether it can really help.. interesting read :)

[Daisychain]

I honestly don't think it would help me much. It sounds as though it would lack emotions too much,and I think an important part of counselling is to get your feelings out just knowing someone truly cares and knows how you're feeling. I can't imagine how counselling without being able to express yourself would help much.

[Steve]

Hi Jenny,

I am a counsellor who offers email counselling as part of my service. I think it's an invaluable tool and has many benefits – but it also has its limitations.

The positives are that it’s (relatively) anonymous, it’s convenient, it’s time effective and some clients feel more comfortable exploring and then writing down their feelings from the comfort of their own homes. As long as you use an encrypted email service it is also secure, and the standard counselling contract applies in terms of confidentiality.

In terms of limitations it isn’t recommended for clients with a history of mental health issues, and many counsellors (myself included) don’t recommend it for clients who are feeling suicidal. In this instance you should call your GP or Samaritans www.samaritans.org

[Jenny]

Hi Steve and welcome to the forum

Thank you for your input, it's good to hear from someone who offers online counselling first hand. I certainly agree with what you say, i can see the benefits but also the limitations. I know personally in my own counselling i've often "pushed the boundaries", e.g. called in between sessions, and i wonder if this also happens with online counselling, i.e. emailing between sessions. I guess it would, i guess for me something seems so very different and 'removed' with online counselling, although i can definitely also the benefits.

Look forward to seeing you around the forum :)

[mumof4]

I don't offer online counselling as such but I do offer email/message board support on a voluntary basis through a charity. As Steve mentioned, I find the anonymity a plus as many people seem to feel able to say more about how they are feeling and this can help us find the root of the problem sooner perhaps.
one large potential problem is that comments can be easily miscontrued in the written word due to not being able to use tone or quickly rectify what has been said as we would if we were face to face and could read body language/facial responses. It can then take some time to rebuild a relationship after such a situation.
another drawback is that we can't guarantee that the client is adequately supported, as we all know counselling can draw upon emotive issues and subjects - I like to be face to face so I can interpret how a client is reacting and adjust the pace of a session accordingly.

It certainly has its place though, online counselling, but needs much thought IMO.

[mel]

I think the internet is such an important way of how people communicate nowadays that the counselling profession should really give it a lot of thought.
Unfortunately it can also become very uncontaining and eventually damaging.
I think email counselling can be very useful to some but I think very risky and dangerous to others.

mel

[nikki]

I have been thinking about this and i feel it is important that we check out online counsellors much as any other counsellor. I know of an oprganisation called ACTO - the association of counsellors and therapists online. They are good because all the therapists are trained and experienced face to face counsellors who have undergone a very good online training via ACTO.

There is an Online Counselling and Therapy In Action conference that is taking place at Leicester University on Saturday 25th April. You can find all about it at http://www.octia.org.uk/OCTIA/Welcome.html. It is i believe part hosted by ACTO.

Nikki xx

[Jenny]

Very good point Nikki.. thanks for sharing that with us. If you don't mind I'll post the details of the conference in the CPD subforum in case people don't see your reply here :)

[nikki]

Yes that's fine. The link for ACTO is http://www.acto-uk.org/index.htm

xx

[shrinknightmare]

How would you be able to check out credentials? Anybody can put up a web page.

[nikki]

I guess that's why ACTO are so good - all their members have been vetted and are fully trained and qualified, and have done a further training in online work - the ones i saw were also accredited. The same thing applies face to face - it is important to check out the therapists credentials because some people call themselves therapists without any training.

Personally i wouldn't use an online counsellor but many would so for many reasons so it is important to be as safe as possible.

Nikki xx