On Line Counselling

[Rory Fly]

Has anyone tried online counselling, I was thinking of giving it a try.

[MysticalSoul]

Personally, I would not touch it with a barge pole. An important element in therapy has to do with the counselling relationship, and how can you build a relationship with someone you have not met. Also, so much goes on in the session, that goes beyond the spoken word.

[eth0_]

Originally Posted by Rory Fly

Has anyone tried online counselling, I was thinking of giving it a try.

A load of nonsense. You'd be better off reading a self-help book - or preferably going to a real life counsellor.

[Odysseus]

As a therapist I'm appalled by the concept, I know its becoming more popular but as a psychoanalyst the main component of therapy is transference and that is not going to developed online.

[boards.iemember]

Originally Posted by eth0_

A load of nonsense.

I completely agree. I have tried it, it doesn't help. One of the main aspects of counselling is being able to show your feelings and emotions.Obviously, It's not possible to do that online.

Have you tried real life counselling?

[JuliusCaesar]

you might find this link useful for a review & recommendations from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence UK

[Valmont]

I was reading about the internet and psychology the other day and I wondered whether anyone had the guts to start an online counselling service, haha.

[Sean_K]

http://www-ai.ijs.si/eliza/eliza.html

[Rory Fly]

Thanks for your replies, I have been doing face to face counselling with Gerry at www.phoenixtherapy.org for a while and found it very good. The cost was getting too much and I thought I might try online email counselling as a follow up support

[Odysseus]

Originally Posted by Rory Fly

Thanks for your replies, I have been doing face to face counselling with Gerry at www.phoenixtherapy.org for a while and found it very good. The cost was getting too much and I thought I might try online email counselling as a follow up support

Roy there are plently of services that supply low cost therapy, generally your dealing with student at the end of their degree or masters, but they would be supervised closely. Would that be an option if its the cost that is the issue?

[Dr Elaine Ryan]

As Julius correctly pointed out with his link, Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is now a recommended treatment option by The National Institute of Clinical Excellence. It should be noted however that they recommend CBT. I do not think those individuals trained to provide a "listening service" will work well in an online format. However, as the research has shown CBT when delivered by a psychologist online is just as effective as when delivered face-to-face.

I think if this is something that you are considering, you should be aware that it is only suitable for certain challenges.

Dr Elaine Ryan

[eth0_]

The very act of chatting online/writing emails stifles free narration, which is a key part of therapy!

And let's not forget that NICE also passed homeopathy as an NHS approved "treatment"...

[Kooli]

Originally Posted by Dr Elaine Ryan

As Julius correctly pointed out with his link, Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is now a recommended treatment option by The National Institute of Clinical Excellence. It should be noted however that they recommend CBT. I do not think those individuals trained to provide a "listening service" will work well in an online format. However, as the research has shown CBT when delivered by a psychologist online is just as effective as when delivered face-to-face.

I think if this is something that you are considering, you should be aware that it is only suitable for certain challenges.

Dr Elaine Ryan

The cCBT programmes recommended by NICE (beating the blues and fear fighter) are not online counselling. There is no counsellor involved. It is a computerised programme that delivers CBT strategies and interventions.

Online counselling is completely different. If you want to give it a go, make sure it is with a counsellor trained in online counsellor, rather than a counsellor just 'giving it a go' and hoping their skills transfer over email.

But if you can find a way to go to face to face counselling, I don't think anyone will dispute that it is superior.

[Kooli]

Originally Posted by eth0_

The very act of chatting online/writing emails stifles free narration, which is a key part of therapy!

And let's not forget that NICE also passed homeopathy as an NHS approved "treatment"...

First of all, is that TRUE about homeopathy??? Oh my god the mind boggles...

As for free narration being stifled, that is very true, but there is also something cathartic about the process of writing, and it's reflexive nature.

There is also the benefit of the client having a full and complete record of the counselling encounter, which could provide ongoing benefits after the sessions have ended.

I'm not advocating online counselling necessarily, but I do think that expressing emotion through writing can have benefits as well as drawbacks.

[orestes]

A load of nonsense as already pointed out and I'd be wary of it just on the basis of not being able to know who is on the other end of the conversation and being able to check out their credentials/see if they are who they say they are/etc, potentially very dangerous imo.