7 Things To Know Before Logging on for Counseling

Reader Comments
Back to article

I agree the argument for great propensity for taking short cuts is unfounded or weak at best. Email has the ability to boiler plate standard information into emails ensuring that protocols are met. The same can be done with instant messenger during an online counseling session. If anything these features enhance services.
http://www.instituteforfamily.org

Tomas of UT 9:04PM October 18, 2010

I'm not sure why Nagy would consider an online therapist to be more likely to make short-cuts? My trainees are all trained to have this information not only at the website but reiterated to the client before proceeding with the therapeutic process as standard. It seems a bit of an assumption that just because online work is flexible that equals shortcuts!

Kate 5:10AM October 01, 2009

The Online Therapy Institute at http://www.onlinetherapyinstitute.com offers an ethical framework for clinicians who work online as well as a wealth of resources for the practicing clinicians and people seeking online therapy.

DeeAnna Merz Nagel of NJ 9:34AM September 30, 2009

In regards to email security, the easiest solution I’ve found is the Voltage Security Network. It’s super simple - I just click a “send secure” button and I can send secure encrypted email to anyone. Here’s more info: http://www.voltage.com/vsn. There’s also demo on the site.

Jason of CA 1:54PM September 28, 2009

I think there is a place for online counselling, although at this stage I would only suggest it as an alternative and not a replacement of face to face counselling. Saying that, when there is perhaps no other easy alternative for a client this form of counselling may prove to be exceptionally beneficial.In the U.K it is seriously being considered. I believe it has potential, however, just as examples; it may be more difficult as you don't receive all those little hidden signs and clues (facial expressions, body language) of how a client may be feeling. It is more open to misunderstandings between client and therapist. Then of course technology isn't infallible and you have to know your way around a computer. I agree it needs to be looked into more, that as always there is a strict code of ethics to abide by and a way of checking out the therapists qualifications and hours of supervised practice. I think any website offering these services should state clearly to the potential client what is offered and what isn't and in what circumstances online counselling may not be appropriate.
Elizabeth Layton
www.ealayton.co.uk

Elizabeth 8:59PM September 23, 2009

There is a possibility that you could benefit considerably (without paying or enduring any of the risks above) from prayer or meditation, or even from sitting down and writing out the things you would say to your therapist---if you had one. You can ask God to help you work things through, or if that's not your belief, you can even ask yourself to help you work things through as though you were role-playing as both patient and counselor. Many of us already know our own answers in the subconscious, I think, and counselors often merely convince us of that.
I'm not knocking professionals, but I have a feeling you might not need this online counseling fad very much after all.

Muser of NM 10:29AM September 23, 2009

We are expert in Career Counsellling and Career Advice. Please visit this website http://www.angstcorner.com/. Here you will get free career counseling with Job Interview tips.

Angst of AL 5:25AM September 23, 2009

3. in finland, and probably in many other countries as well, the patient journal is to become electronic, and the system will be provided by the state. private practices can develop software to login to the same system, but are not allowed to create a parallel system. paper journals are still allowed, but i have some reasons to believe that in practice it will at least be more difficult to co-operate with the state, should you choose to not join the electronic system. (ie, being 'compatible' with the electronic system will be seen as a competitive edge by the buyer, or even a requirement).
--> patient confidentiality is a hot topic. today it's illegal to outsource the administration of your patient records (of course! how could you be responsible if you're not in charge over them). yet this is exactly what's happening now, only it's the state being the third party, and even worse, due to the nature of digital information, the risk of information being copied and thus getting into other people's hands is immensely higher.
7. referring to the APA ethics code? lol. what a joke. face your torture facts first, then we'll talk.

.thomas 4:35AM September 23, 2009

Even if a website were to offer all the possible tools required for telemental health care delivery, that doesn't mean the professional working with a client has undergone the ethically mandated training, study or supervised experience. I am a psychologist I've been trying to get trained because my ethics code says this:
2. Competence
2.01 Boundaries of Competence
--snip--
(c) Psychologists planning to provide services, teach, or conduct research involving populations, areas, techniques, or technologies new to them undertake relevant education, training, supervised experience, consultation, or study.
2002 ETHICAL PRINCIPLES OF PSYCHOLOGISTS AND CODE OF CONDUCT,
http://www.apa.org/ethics/code2002.pdf
Where can we get that kind of training?

Joanne Rittenhouser, Pj.D. of FL 3:50AM September 23, 2009

MyTherapyNet.com has all of those issues handled - which is wonderful for us therapists because we are able to go to one location that provides us with all of the technology necessary to provide our services in accordance with the standards of our profession.

Marina Skegin-Sipes of CA 6:17PM September 22, 2009