Counselling clients online, whether by email, text, chat or real time video link is becoming a huge growth industry in the counselling domain (Dowling & Rickwood, 2015). The prevalence and availability of the internet is providing the facilitation of counselling services online with a realistic and viable method of delivery. The continued advancements of internet efficiency and the predilection of people to utilise all forms of services from home in an increasingly time poor environment, will only see a continuance in the uptake of online services. Online counselling must adhere to the same objectives as traditional face to face counselling, which is to alleviate the distress, anxiety, and concerns that clients can present and in doing so
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Although there are those concerns that it is difficult to convey empathy, warmth, and humour in text-based communication, studies have increasingly provided evidence that these limitations are also associated with certain benefits and advantages. It has been theorised that anonymity or relative anonymity can facilitate feelings of psychological safety, disinhibition, and promote increased self-disclosure (Suler, 2010). Other studies have supported this, showing that the therapeutic alliance is positive and that there is a definitive drop in inhibition. It is also seen that there is a higher level of disclosure, particularly with adolescents using online forms of counselling (Dunn 2012; Hanley, 2009) It was also found that students who used online counselling noted advantages including ease of use, speed, anonymity, and reduced stigma compared to traditional counselling (Efstathiou 2009; Salleh et al., 2015). Another advantage of text based counselling is that the written word can be referred to indefinitely, allowing the client more time to process the content. In addition, the client has control of the pace and depth of material, allowing a sense of psychological safety and cause increased reflection (Beattie et al., 2006). However, due to the time consuming nature of text …show more content…
Online counselling can be a viable option for many clients and sometimes allows clients a different and stronger voice. In addition, online counselling may allow better access to multicultural counsellors and allow clients more therapeutic choices (Elleven & Allen, 2004). Research into online counselling shows that it may be advantageous for clients who do not have easy access to conventional face to face therapy, for example, those who are isolated in rural populations or underserved populations such as prison inmates. It is also possible that online counselling could appeal to those people who are functioning at a reasonably high level, and who may not require weekly personal sessions with a counsellor to maintain their mental health (Mallen & Vogel,
Although there are those concerns that it is difficult to convey empathy, warmth, and humour in text-based communication, studies have increasingly provided evidence that these limitations are also associated with certain benefits and advantages. It has been theorised that anonymity or relative anonymity can facilitate feelings of psychological safety, disinhibition, and promote increased self-disclosure (Suler, 2010). Other studies have supported this, showing that the therapeutic alliance is positive and that there is a definitive drop in inhibition. It is also seen that there is a higher level of disclosure, particularly with adolescents using online forms of counselling (Dunn 2012; Hanley, 2009) It was also found that students who used online counselling noted advantages including ease of use, speed, anonymity, and reduced stigma compared to traditional counselling (Efstathiou 2009; Salleh et al., 2015). Another advantage of text based counselling is that the written word can be referred to indefinitely, allowing the client more time to process the content. In addition, the client has control of the pace and depth of material, allowing a sense of psychological safety and cause increased reflection (Beattie et al., 2006). However, due to the time consuming nature of text …show more content…
Online counselling can be a viable option for many clients and sometimes allows clients a different and stronger voice. In addition, online counselling may allow better access to multicultural counsellors and allow clients more therapeutic choices (Elleven & Allen, 2004). Research into online counselling shows that it may be advantageous for clients who do not have easy access to conventional face to face therapy, for example, those who are isolated in rural populations or underserved populations such as prison inmates. It is also possible that online counselling could appeal to those people who are functioning at a reasonably high level, and who may not require weekly personal sessions with a counsellor to maintain their mental health (Mallen & Vogel,