Computer Related Technology in Counselling - Essay Example

Running Head: COMPUTER RELATED TECHNOLOGY IN COUNSELLING Literature review Name Course Instructor Date INTERNET/ONLINE COUNSELLING Literature Review Introduction Technological revolution has greatly enhanced person to person communication within different geographical locations and time zones. An example of such advancements is online counseling which is also referred to as Web counseling and is defined as the practice in professional counseling where the counselor interacts with his clients in remote locations or separate places by use of electronic means of communication. Oravec (2000) observes that it is virtual form of counseling that is gradually replacing the traditional real time personal counseling where the counselor and the client meet face to face. As a result, there are many questions being raised about the efficacy of online counseling as a healing process for mentally sick individuals. There are many concerns about the great use of computer technology in counseling therapy echo videotaping, audio and telephone were introduce within this therapy. Indeed, analogies have widely been drawn between the recent use of internet and telephone counseling in service delivery (King. et al, 1998). Counselors were worried about the implications of these technologies on therapeutic relationship as well as efficacy of service delivery. In additions, there were more concerns regarding the confidentiality of various client related material as well as dehumanization of the therapeutic processes (Harper 1999). Related objections to the use of computer technology in counseling happened in the 60s whereby computer counseling related programs were designed to largely stimulate therapists. Wagman and Kerber (1984) maintains an excellent overview of Weizenbaum’s (1965) pioneering two programs namely DOCTOR and ELIZA, which were made to stimulate cognitive behavioral program as well as client centered counselors. The introduction of these two programs prompted an onslaught of critical debates on the role of computers during counseling therapy. In discussion of development of computer stimulation in counseling services, Phillips (1998), asserts that the process of operating therapeutic procedures during counseling force a much more needed precision and clarity. Nevertheless, it is quite evident that computer based counseling interactive simulation displayed in counselor training. According to Casey (1999), he found out there are many factors that have largely contributed to the delays being experience in computer related technology within counseling services. These factors include; resistance by various counselors in incorporating the use of computers into the counseling profession and challenges experienced in accurate reproduction of human interaction which is considered to be vital in the counseling process. He further asserts that reluctance in the use of computer technology by counselors may be a greater reflection of an existing conflict between the process involved in attaining an effective counseling therapeutic outcome and the demand for a précised inherent in computer related technology. While great attention has be focused on challenges involved in the use of internet for counseling therapeutic intervention, many advantages have largely been cited too. Sampson et al (1997) maintain that, there are various ways in which counselors can use internet based computer related technology to accomplish work related task. According to a research conducted by Bowman and Bowman (1998), potential use of computers in counseling therapy includes; inter-session monitoring, marketing, post-therapeutic follow up, therapist/client correspondences for scheduling, referrals, professional collegiality and finally, counselor research. Types and prevalence of online counseling There are various forms of online counseling and they are mainly related to mental health interventions. They include online support groups, mental health information websites, mental health assessment and screening online tools, individual therapy, self-help programs and group therapies. Online services utilized for individual therapy include use of e-mails and synchronous methods like video conferencing, chat, web-based messaging or video-over IP. Other online modalities have recently emerged and they include online video game therapy and virtual reality therapy. Although online counseling is considered as an improvement from traditional counseling methods, it is actually a primary treatment modality (Walker, 2007). Online counseling has gained much prevalence over the past few decades. According to Google search, there are about 468,000 online registered counselors and 130,000 e-therapists. The International society for mental health online (ISMHO) has currently over 400 registered members and the figures are expected to increase in future. It is predicted that e-mail, video phone and virtual reality therapies will flourish tremendously by 2020. Research has also indicated that most of the online counselors are males at their mid 40’s (ISMHO, 2000). On the other hand, majority of the online clients are females with the ratio of women to men receiving the service being 3:2. Walker (2007) asserts that issues most frequently solved via online help are those related to relationships. Generally, online facilities have led to increased work management and communication and specifically in the field of counseling. The term counseling has been totally redefined from older definitions following introduction of online counseling. In order to have the full benefits of online counseling, the counselor must have a full understanding of the client he is dealing with (Mehta & Chalhoub, 2006). For instance, he must know if the client has knowledge concerning online services and whether the services are accessible and reliable. Menon and Miller-Cribbs (2002) point out that the computer mediated counseling must be provided in an appealing manner that will draw the interest of the client. A final issue that the counselor should consider before venturing into the practice is the ethical implication involved. He should find out if online counseling is ethically and culturally acceptable by the population the client hails from. Precise definitions and accountability Many of the objections and conflicts about the use of computer related technology by counselors relate widely to the lack in defining various kinds of services being offered utilizing computer use as the medium of service delivery. Research carried out by Bowman and Bowman (1998) indicate that using terms that are not clear regarding the service being offered such as crisis intervention, mental health counseling as well as education widely challenges a counselor of how to ethically and effectively use technology. In addition, the research further indicate that lack of clarity as to what exactly is being offered to consumer raises question regarding the accurate provision of information about informed consent of clients and profession as there enter into a strong relationship via the internet. Another important and related aspect associated with the use of internet concerns evaluation and accountability of various therapeutic outcome displayed in effectiveness in the services provided by counselors. Research by Smith and Steenbarger indicates that given broaden calls for accountability from school, public as well as insurers, the assessment defined in counseling quality is more likely to become a major tool for survival as well as marketing in the near future. With main focus on internet and computer related technology, counseling professions need to come up with standardized ways of evaluating outcome of their services so as to justify the high cost involved in this therapeutic process. With such a possibility, Alessi and Huang (1996) warn that practitioners within mental health care will largely feel impacts if internet accessible computerized screening tools are independently developed. Online Support Groups—Demonstrations of Empathy Research indicate that counseling psychologists work in conveying support and empathy to clients as a way of strengthening as well as coping with abilities can widely flourish. Some researchers have highly suggested that one of the chief benefits of internet is the way individuals connect with other people as well as gaining support and information. The internet have been considered to be a way of supporting individual feeling isolated thus, leading them into finding new ways handle problem. Barak (1999) maintain that, online counseling can effectively accommodate communication defined in therapeutic empathy and support with these two parties being present within the same location. Research carried out by Mallen (2004); found that there are benefits in the use of online support group. Online support groups largely consist of messages that can be accessed by anyone. According to research carried out by Sharipo and Schulman (1996), online counselors are likely to face situation where their customers may pose threat to other as well as to themselves. In such situations, counselors need to develop an affirmative duty of protecting the client by way of warning third parties on the dangers being posed by their clients. The research indicate that the counselor ability to ensure that right judgment is made may likely be compromised if the various efforts were not substantially made during referral especially in taking clients history. Shapiro and Schulman (1996) largely noted that even with great determination of threat to other as well as self is probable; it is quite not clear how a counselor could largely deal with situation from a given distance. Legal and ethical issues of online counseling There are many legal and ethical issues revolving around online counseling services. Confidentiality is the first concern during provision of online counseling (Shapiro & Schulman, 1996). The two levels of confidentiality occur either during transmission or at the clients and therapists ends. It either occurs through misdirection of e-mails by computer hackers or accessibility of emails by other persons such as family, friends and employers. The mode of storage of transcripts also raises the issue of confidentiality. Culture and jurisdiction becomes a challenge especially when the client and the therapist reside in different jurisdictions. Laws being applied by the counselor might differ from those used in the jurisdiction of the client’s residential area. According to codes of ethics, counselors must have a given level of education, competence and expertise in order to provide services that are free of professional misconduct. Ordinary counselors may have relative knowledge about computer technology but online counselor must possess relatively high technological knowhow. According to Recupero & Rainey (2005), it takes considerable expertise and skills to express and communicate emotions simply via written words. Griffiths (2001) points out that there are many unregistered and under qualified online counselor who pose as professionals just to take advantage of ignorant patients. Although it is difficult for clients to make accurate and informed decision about online therapist, it is important for them have adequate information concerning the counselors for instance going through their credentials and knowing which body has registered them. Advantages and disadvantages of online counseling According to Skinner & Zack (2004), there are many advantages of using online counseling. To begin with, online counseling increases the potential of availing mental health services to a majority of the population. Persons in geographically remote areas and those who cannot leave home due to various reasons can still access medical and psychological help right at the comfort of their homes. It also makes it easy for individuals suffering from social phobia such as those experiencing stigmatization and anxiety. Involvement of family is possible through online therapy. Online counseling is convenient to both the counselor and the client. To the client, he can communicate with the counselor at any time of the day from any part of the world while for the counselor he is able to schedule his program since he is not tied up by long appointments. Adequate time is created for both the client and the counselor to compose questions and to reflect on issues they discuss during the sessions (Suler, 2001). Online counseling provides a permanent record where the client can make reference to comments and encouragements from previous sessions. Despite having many advantages, online counseling does also has several disadvantages. It eliminates the human factor which is quite essential in counseling. Rochlen, Bertvas & Zack (2004) state that online mental help services reduce the sense of trust and intimacy needed throughout the therapeutic process. Therapeutic relationship may therefore be impaired due to inability of the client and the counselor to interact face-to-face. Non-verbal cues such as body language, facial expressions and voice tones are totally absent in online counseling. Peterson and Beck (2003) explains that lack of such elements may disable the client-therapist relationship. Sometimes, therapists rely on non-verbal signs so as to make interpretations about the clients thinking and feeling. It is also difficult to assess and diagnose disorders in patients. In addition, it is limiting since it requires the client to have adequate knowledge concerning online services and be fairly good in writing, reading and interpretation of information (Mora, Nevid, & Chaplin, 2008). References Shapiro, D and Schulman, C. (1996). Ethical and legal issues in e-mail therapy. Ethics & Behavior, 62, 107-124. Mallen, M. (2004). Online counseling research. In R. Kraus, J. Zack, & G. Stricker (Eds.), Online counseling: A handbook for mental health professionals (pp. 69-89). San Diego, CA: Academic Press. Barak, A. (1999). Psychological applications on the Internet: A discipline on the threshold of a new millennium. Applied & Preventive Psychology, 8, 231-245. King, S, Engi, S, and Poulos, S. (1998). Using the Internet to assist family therapy. British Journal of Guidance & Counseling, 26 (1), 43-52. Harper, S. (1999). Counseling and the Internet. Counseling and Human Development, 32 (1), 1-12. Wagman, M and Kerber, K. (1984). Counselor training applications-computer assisted counseling: Problems and prospects. Counselor Education and Supervision, 24 (2), 142-153. Steenbarger, B. & Smith, H. (1996). Assessing the quality of counseling services: Developing accountable helping systems. Journal of Counseling and Development, 75 (2), 145-150. Phillips, S. (1984). Issues and limitations—contributions and limitations in the use of computers in counselor training. Counselor Education and Supervision, 24 (2), 186-192. Bowman, R. and Bowman, V. (1998). Life on the electronic frontier: The application of technology to group work. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 23 (4), 428-445. Huang, M and Alessi, N. (1996). The Internet and the future of psychiatry. American Journal of Psychiatry, 153 (7), 861-869. Imogie, A. (2002). Counselling for quality assurance in education. A keynote address delivered on the occasion of 26th Annual Conference of CASSON, University of Benin, Benin City, August, 2002. International Society for Mental Health Online (2000). Suggested principles for the online provision of mental health services (version 3.11). Retrieved November 19, 2011, from http://www.ismho.org/builder/?p=page&id=214 . Mehta, S., & Chalhoub, N. (2006). An e-mail for your thoughts. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, volume 11, Issue 3, p.168-170. Menon, G., & Miller-Cribbs, J. (2002). Online social work practice: Issues and guidelines for the profession. Advances in Social Work, volume 3, Issue 2, p.104-116. Mora, L., Nevid, J., & Chaplin, W. (2008). Psychologist treatment recommendations for Internet-based therapeutic interventions. Computers in Human Behavior, volume 24, p. 3052-3062. Oravec, J.(2000). Online counseling and the internet: Perspectives for mental health care supervision and education. Journal of Mental Health, volume 9, Issue 2, p.121-135. Peterson, M.R. & Beck, R.L. (2003). E-mail as an adjunctive tool in psychotherapy: Response and responsibility. American Journal of Psychotherapy, volume 57(2), Issue 167-181. Recupero, P., & Rainey, S. (2005). Informed consent to e-therapy. American Journal of Psychotherapy, Volume 59, issue 4, p. 319-331. Rochlen, A., Bertvas, N., & Zack, J. (2004). The online and face-to-face counseling attitudes scales: A validation study. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, Volume 37, p. 95-111. Skinner, A., & Zack, J. (2004). Counseling and the Internet. American Behavioral Scientist, volume 48, Issue 4, p. 434-446. Suler, J. (2001). Assessing a person’s suitability for online therapy: The ISMHO clinical case study group. CyberPsychology & Behavior, Volume 4, Issue 6, P. 675-679. Walker, M. (2007). Mental health treatment online. Retrieved November 19, 2011, from http://digitalinclusion.pbwiki.com/f/Mental+Health+Treatment+Online+elec+231 107.pdf Read More

Nevertheless, it is quite evident that computer based counseling interactive simulation displayed in counselor training. According to Casey (1999), he found out there are many factors that have largely contributed to the delays being experience in computer related technology within counseling services. These factors include; resistance by various counselors in incorporating the use of computers into the counseling profession and challenges experienced in accurate reproduction of human interaction which is considered to be vital in the counseling process.

He further asserts that reluctance in the use of computer technology by counselors may be a greater reflection of an existing conflict between the process involved in attaining an effective counseling therapeutic outcome and the demand for a précised inherent in computer related technology. While great attention has be focused on challenges involved in the use of internet for counseling therapeutic intervention, many advantages have largely been cited too. Sampson et al (1997) maintain that, there are various ways in which counselors can use internet based computer related technology to accomplish work related task.

According to a research conducted by Bowman and Bowman (1998), potential use of computers in counseling therapy includes; inter-session monitoring, marketing, post-therapeutic follow up, therapist/client correspondences for scheduling, referrals, professional collegiality and finally, counselor research. Types and prevalence of online counseling There are various forms of online counseling and they are mainly related to mental health interventions. They include online support groups, mental health information websites, mental health assessment and screening online tools, individual therapy, self-help programs and group therapies.

Online services utilized for individual therapy include use of e-mails and synchronous methods like video conferencing, chat, web-based messaging or video-over IP. Other online modalities have recently emerged and they include online video game therapy and virtual reality therapy. Although online counseling is considered as an improvement from traditional counseling methods, it is actually a primary treatment modality (Walker, 2007). Online counseling has gained much prevalence over the past few decades.

According to Google search, there are about 468,000 online registered counselors and 130,000 e-therapists. The International society for mental health online (ISMHO) has currently over 400 registered members and the figures are expected to increase in future. It is predicted that e-mail, video phone and virtual reality therapies will flourish tremendously by 2020. Research has also indicated that most of the online counselors are males at their mid 40’s (ISMHO, 2000). On the other hand, majority of the online clients are females with the ratio of women to men receiving the service being 3:2.

Walker (2007) asserts that issues most frequently solved via online help are those related to relationships. Generally, online facilities have led to increased work management and communication and specifically in the field of counseling. The term counseling has been totally redefined from older definitions following introduction of online counseling. In order to have the full benefits of online counseling, the counselor must have a full understanding of the client he is dealing with (Mehta & Chalhoub, 2006).

For instance, he must know if the client has knowledge concerning online services and whether the services are accessible and reliable. Menon and Miller-Cribbs (2002) point out that the computer mediated counseling must be provided in an appealing manner that will draw the interest of the client. A final issue that the counselor should consider before venturing into the practice is the ethical implication involved. He should find out if online counseling is ethically and culturally acceptable by the population the client hails from.

Precise definitions and accountability Many of the objections and conflicts about the use of computer related technology by counselors relate widely to the lack in defining various kinds of services being offered utilizing computer use as the medium of service delivery.

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