Media Release
29 April, 2004
New technology challenges conventional wisdom in counselling
A leading academic says it’s time for professional counsellors to
recognise the potential of the Internet and take a leap into 21st
Century technology.
UniSA senior lecturer in Psychology, Dr John Court, says the profession
needs to keep pace with new technology before they lose touch
completely.
“Young people treat the Net as a normal part of their everyday lives,
developing strong, close and trusting relationships through chat groups,
email and other online communications,” Dr Court said.
“As counsellors we need to be a part of this world, understand its
challenges and opportunities.
“The Internet is now more economical, accessible and user-friendly. It
is part of our culture, our everyday activity. Counsellors need to know
that the technology is no longer an obstacle to self disclosure.”
Dr Court said counsellors would need to learn new skills to successfully
counsel over the Net.
“In the past being able to observe gestures, to appraise appearance, and
pick up the cues that arise from being in the same space with another
person have been viewed as key components in the development of the
trust relationship,” he said.
“With experience you can learn to interpret the language and nuances of
online communication, the language used, the pace of responses, and
hesitations can all be revealing,” he explains.
“It is therefore something of a paradox and a challenge to conventional
wisdom to find that net-based communication is not only effective, but
in some cases the preferred mode of engaging with a therapist.”
According to Court more and more people are using online counselling
services, especially in the US. He said practitioners had recognised the
demand but had not given comparable attention to training or exploring
ways in which the newer approaches could be applied ethically and
effectively.
“Real time counselling (a messages mode where each speaker has a
personal customisable screen) has immediacy and therefore is the
preferred method of online counselling,” he said.
“Many clients, especially those recovering from sexual abuse, actually
feel more secure not having to physically face the counsellor, enabling
very rapid revelation.
“Using real-time technologies, client /counsellor relationships can form
quickly and with the right approach enable rapid progression.
“Another advantage of online counselling is that the client has a
written record of what has transpired in each and every session. This
allows ongoing review, both between sessions, and for the rest of their
life. With both parties have written records, any confusion or
misunderstandings can be easily clarified without the difficulties of
what was 'thought' to have been said, or remembered as having been said.
“Our online clients tend to be more inclined to read and access
information and as the contact is computer based, it's easy and cost
effective to supply tailored written references online.”
Dr Court warns, however, that not all needs and issues can be met or are
suitable to address through on line counselling.
“Relationship based issues, such as marriage counselling, has been an
area we have avoided, because all parties need to hear and process all
that is said.
But judging by the escalating use of the internet for all forms of
communication it is becoming increasingly necessary to develop online
counselling literacy to meet the needs of those many people who seek
close and personal relationships via this technology, according to Dr
Court.
“This suggests a strong need for targeted training in the modality if it
is to be used ethically.”
Dr Court presented his paper, Up Close and Personal; Counselling on the
Net, at the Internet, Media and Mental Health Conference, in Queensland,
in April.
More information
-
Dr John Court, Senior lecturer, Psychology, UniSA, 08 8302 1016
Media contact
-
Thel Krollig, Media Liaison, UniSA, (08) 8302 0028 or 0407726175