Online counseling
cleanup-date|September 2005
'Online counseling' is a method of helping people resolve most life and relationship concerns via internet communication technology. Often called e-therapy, e-counseling, or coaching, this type of counseling relationship can be achieved through email, real-time chat, and video conferencing.
Online counseling can be used for a variety of reasons. Many people seek e-therapy because they are looking to resolve relationship problems, stress-related issues, or other everyday life struggles. Some often use online counseling in conjunction with traditional psychotherapy, and others use it as an occasional check-in tool for their lives.
What Online Counseling Is Not
Although most people providing online counseling services are mental health professionals, such as therapists who have existing traditional face-to-face practices but also choose to extend their services online, e-counseling is not for diagnosing or treating mental health disorders. This is primarily due to the fact that there is no way to be totally sure of the qualifications of the person providing the service, and because there are verbal cues (or verbal behavior), signs and signals given by a client to a therapist that are missed in online counseling. This is why some therapists like the relatively new option of video conferencing.
Benefits of Online Counseling
People that seek online counseling are usually doing so for a variety of reasons - all which benefit the user. Some like the convenience of working on their issues in the comfort of their home or office and at a convenient time. Some people are uncomfortable talking about confidential issues while facing the person. Online counseling allows for more privacy and confidentiality that traditional counseling doesn't allow. Online counseling is often less expensive then traditional in-person sessions, and both client and therapist can take their time with their responses instead of having to think quickly within a typical 30 to 45-minute traditional session. Finally, this method works well with people who can express themselves easily by reading and writing.
A 2005 University of Toronto study showed female users of a Canadian online counseling service outnumbered males four to one.http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bin6/051011-1731.asp
Cons of Online Counseling
The weakness of online counseling goes back to why therapists dare not make or treat mental health diagnosis online-- lack of non-verbal cues and communication. A client could be misunderstood, which could lead to a frustrating experience for both. Also, it is difficult to understand clients who do not read and write well (or type well), and again the client could be misunderstood.
External links
Source: Wikipedia | The above article is available under the GNU FDL. | Edit this article
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