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The study examined relational variables in face-to-face versus online counseling to explore how initial relationships between a counselor and a client differed from face-to-face and online communication. The participants were 42 undergraduates who acted to come to Students Counseling Center for help for the first time. Five graduates of clinical psychology acted as their counselors. The counselors of the two groups were same. Participants were told to fill out several pencil-and-paper measures on the completion of their interaction such as satisfaction, genuiness, positive regard, self-disclose and the depth of processing, mainly about relationship variables. The findings indicated that the face-to-face group felt more satisfied with the experience and experienced a higher degree of genuiness with their partner. There were no significant differences between groups in regard to the level of empathy, positive regard, self-disclose and the depth of processing. The implications for online counseling are discussed.

Purpose To examine the effect of online counseling abuse counseling on drug use among underserved patients. Methods Subjects were recruited from an Indian Reservation in Eagle Butte, South Dakota; a family court in Newark, New Jersey; a probation office in Alexandria, Virginia; and a co-occurring disorders treatment clinic in Washington, District of Columbia. Subjects were predominantly poor, undereducated, unemployed, court involved, or diagnosed with co-occurring psychiatric disorders. A total of 79 subjects volunteered to participate in the project. Subjects were randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. The control and experimental groups were both issued an Internet-ready computer and 1 year of Internet service. Only the experimental group had access to online counseling intervention. Drug use was measured using a combination of self-usage reporting and supervised urine tests. Results Urine tests were available for 37% of subjects. Exit surveys containing self-reported usage were obtained from 54% of the subjects. Self-usage reports or urine test results were available from 70% of subjects. The difference of the rates of drug use in the control and experimental groups (as calculated from urine tests or through self-report) was not significantly different from zero, suggesting that online counseling had not led to a reduction in substance use. It is possible that the study lacked sufficient power to detect small differences in the rate of drug use in the experimental and control groups. Conclusions Additional research is needed to establish the efficacy of online counseling in hard-to-reach populations.

This paper describes how online counseling can be used to engage family members in the recovery of clients. The counselor guides the client and the family member separately through the stages of change, helping them commit to joint action. Each participant thinks through his/her concerns and the advantages of getting involved, each makes a specific commitment to working together under the guidance of the counselor. Finally each celebrates, with specific rituals, their decision to work together. Once the client and the family members commit to working together, the counselor guides them through the stages of change as a group. In the pre-contemplation stage, the family members are taught the goals of working together and the procedures to avoid dysfunctional conflict. In the contemplation phase, the client and the family members examine the shared environment and its links to target behavior. In the commitment to action stage, the client and the family members decide on specific changes in their shared environment. In the maintenance phase, the client and the family members analyze if the change has led to improvements. They analyze relapses and make additional cycles of improvement.

The field of Internet-supported therapeutic interventions has suffered from a lack of clarity and consistency. The absence of professional leadership and of accepted governing approaches, terminology, professional standards, and methodologies has caused this field to be diffused and unstructured. Numerous terms have been used to label and describe the activities conducted over the Internet for mental and physical health purposes: web-based therapy, e-therapy, cybertherapy, eHealth, e-Interventions, computer-mediated interventions, and online therapy (or counseling), among others.Following a comprehensive review, we conceptualized Internet-supported interventions, using four categories based on prime practice approaches: web-based interventions, online counseling and therapy, Internet-operated therapeutic software, and other online activities (e.g., as supplements to face-to-face therapy). We provide a working definition and detailed description of each category, accompanied by numerous examples.These categories may now serve as guiding definitions and related terminologies for further research and development in this emerging field.

Some areas in Asian have no medical facilities and proper mental health care is unavailable. Therefore, online counseling systems are needed. We have been studying and putting into practice online counseling for people assigned overseas. We constructed a system using agile software development for those assigned overseas in Asia. The first step involved developing a prototype system based on system requirements after we repeatedly discussed system development with people in charge of a clinic. Next, we conducted interviews about the online counseling system. We also discussed and analyzed the interviews. Finally, we completed the online Web counseling system by repeatedly discussing possible improvements with the clinic and then incorporating the changes in the system. We report on the construction of the system.

The data on increasing pressure for mental health services and behavioral problems, including family and juvenile violence, child abuse and traumatized war veterans, have prompted the preparation of the e-mental health support project in the City of Zagreb, Croatia. Highlights of the plan for development of the project in the next five-year period will be presented. They envision development of a comprehensive web-based package from self-guided information access on mental health issues to interactive interventions by therapists. It will contribute to the long-term mental health agenda including: mental health promotion ; destigmatization of mental health needs and services ; lowering the threshold for self-initiated use of mental health services in the population ; low-cost services. The recent assessment of resources for the psychosocial response after disasters showed that the resources are available, but not well connected. In this sense the city project will also contribute to the preparedness and recovery of communities.

Background The association between greater utilization of Web-assisted tobacco interventions and increased abstinence rates is well recognized. However, there is little information on how utilization of specific website features influences quitting. Objective To determine the association between utilization of informational, interactive, and online community resources (eg. bulletin boards) and abstinence rates, with the broader objective to identify potential strategies for improving outcomes for Web-assisted tobacco interventions. Methods In Spring 2004, a cohort of 607 quitplan.com users consented to participate in an evaluation of quitplan.com, a Minnesota branded version of QuitNet.com. We developed utilization measures for different site features: general information, interactive diagnostic tools and quit planning tools, online expert counseling, passive (ie, reading of bulletin boards) and active (ie, public posting) online community engagement, and one-to-one messaging with other virtual community members. Using bivariate, multivariate, and path analyses, we examined the relationship between utilization of specific site features and 30-day abstinence at 6 months. Results The most commonly used resources were the interactive quit planning tools (used by 77% of site users). Other informational resources (ie, quitting guides) were used more commonly (60% of users) than passive (38%) or active (24%) community features. Online community engagement through one-to-one messaging was low (11%) as was use of online counseling (5%). The 30-day abstinence rate among study participants at 6 months was 9.7% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 7.3% - 12.1%). In the logistic regression model, neither the demographic data (eg, age, gender, education level, employment, or insurance status) nor the smoking-related data (eg, cigarettes per day, time to first morning cigarette, baseline readiness to quit) nor use of smoking cessation medications entered the model as significant predictors of abstinence. Individuals who used the interactive quit planning tools once, two to three times, or four or more times had an odds of abstinence of 0.65 (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.22 - 1.94), 1.87 (95% CI 0.77 - 4.56), and 2.35 (95% CI 1.0 - 5.58), respectively. The use of one-to-one messages (reference = none vs 1 or more) entered the final model as potential predictor for abstinence, though the significance of this measure was marginal (OR = 1.91, 95% CI 0.92 - 3.97, P = .083). In the path analysis, an apparent association between active online community engagement and abstinence was accounted for in large part by increased use of interactive quitting tools and one-to-one messaging. Conclusions Use of interactive quitting tools, and perhaps one-to-one messaging with other members of the online community, was associated with increased abstinence rates among quitplan.com users. Designs that facilitate use of these features should be considered.

Background Drawing a pedigree is a prerequisite in genetic counseling. In medical records, a pedigree is useful to document the family history of the patient. Drawing a pedigree is also necessary in collecting genetic resources for medical research such as positional cloning. Currently, most pedigrees are drawn by hand or by drawing software. Due to the special requirements in a standardized pedigree, generating a pedigree by these methods is usually time-consuming and requires professionals. This limits the usage of a pedigree as demanded in remote diagnosis or online counseling from the counselees to send an electronic pedigree. Results We developed an online pedigree drawing tool, PediDraw, which enables users to generate pedigrees after inputting the family information step-by-step on web. It outputs a pedigree or table to present a family history to the counselors. Conclusion PediDraw is a user-friendly web-based drawing tool. It is accessible via Internet.

Background In this paper, we show how counselors and psychologists can use emails for online management of substance abusers, including the anatomy and content of emails that clinicians should send substance abusers. Some investigators have attempted to determine if providing mental health services online is an efficacious delivery of treatment. The question of efficacy is an empirical issue that cannot be settled unless we are explicitly clear about the content and nature of online treatment. We believe that it is not the communications via internet that matters, but the content of these communications. The purpose of this paper is to provide the content of our online counseling services so others can duplicate the work and investigate its efficacy. Results We have managed nearly 300 clients online for recovery from substance abuse. Treatment included individual counseling (motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavior therapy, relapse prevention assignments), participation in an electronic support group and the development of a recovery team. Our findings of success with these interventions are reported elsewhere. Our experience has led to development of a protocol of care that is described more fully in this paper. This protocol is based on stages of change and relapse prevention theories and follows a Motivational Interviewing method of counseling. Conclusion The use of electronic media in providing mental health treatment remains controversial due to concerns about confidentiality, security and legal considerations. More research is needed to validate and generalize the use of online treatment for mental health problems. If researchers have to build on each others work, it is paramount that we share our protocols of care, as we have done in this paper.

BACKGROUND: The provision of online counseling and online therapy is steadily increasing. The results of a number of controlled trials investigating the efficacy of online approaches indicate that some of these new treatment alternatives might indeed be effective. Yet, little is known about how the therapeutic relationship (or working alliance) evolves over the Internet and whether it influences treatment outcome as it does in traditional face-to-face therapy. The working alliance has been defined as the extent to which a patient and a therapist work collaboratively and purposefully and connect emotionally. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the quality and predictive relevance of the therapeutic alliance for patients receiving a short-term, Internet-based, cognitive-behavioral therapy program for posttraumatic stress reactions. METHODS: After rigorous screening for exclusion criteria of high dissociative tendencies, risk of psychosis, and suicidal tendencies, 48 patients, who had experienced a traumatic event in the past, were included in the online treatment study. The short form of the Working Alliance Inventory (WAI-S) was administered at the fourth treatment session. The relevance of the therapeutic relationship for treatment outcome was assessed in terms of residual gain from pretreatment assessment to the end of treatment. The revised Impact of Event Scale (IES-R) and the depression and anxiety subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) were used to assess treatment outcome. RESULTS: A total of 48 participants were included in the analysis. Overall, high alliance scores were found. In contrast to previous studies of conventional face-to-face therapy, there was only a low to modest association (.13 to .33) between the quality of the therapeutic relationship and treatment outcome. CONCLUSION: High alliance scores indicate that it was possible to establish a stable and positive therapeutic relationship online. However, the therapeutic relationship was found to be a less relevant predictor of the therapy outcome than in face-to-face approaches. We discuss whether this finding can be attributed to methodological reasons such as the restricted range of alliance ratings obtained or the time of administration of the WAI-S, or whether the therapeutic relationship might be less relevant to the treatment outcome of online therapy approaches. [J Med Internet Res 2006;8(4):e31]

Resource support dimension of open, flexible, and distributed learning environment examines the online support and resources required to foster meaningful learning environments. An e-learning institution should have a key component in showing the students that there is an infrastructure that provides support the learners need and gives the security that they are indeed not alone in any of the tasks they are asked to carry out (Fultcher & Lock, 1999). The following in an outline of this chapter: • Online support • Resources

The current article reviews the most recent literature addressing the definitions, ethical considerations, and potential strengths and limitations of online therapy. In addition, a framework is provided for how to conceptualize and categorize different aspects of online therapy for research purposes. Relevant studies of both online and face-to-face therapy as well as suggestions for future research are outlined.

Cybertherapy is a new modality to conduct psychotherapy in cyberspace. It is an alternative source of help that can be a potent tool to use in addition to traditional therapy. It might replace face therapy in these instances

Background: Access to technologically mediated information and services under the umbrella of mental and physical health has become increasingly available to clients via Internet modalities, according to a recent study. In May 2010, video counseling was added to the counseling services offered through the Employee and Family Assistance Program at Shepell·fgi as a pilot project with a full operational launch in September 2011. Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct a retrospective post launch examination of the video counseling service through an analysis of the reported clinical outcomes of video and in-person counseling modalities. Methods: A chronological sample of 68 video counseling (VC) cases and 68 in-person (IP) cases were collected from a pool of client clinical files closed in 2012. To minimize the variables impacting the study and maintain as much clinical continuity as possible, the IP and the VC clients must have attended clinical sessions with any one of six counselors who provided both the VC and the IP services. The study compared the two counseling modalities along the following data points (see glossary of terms): (1) client demographic profiles (eg, age, gender, whether the sessions involved individuals or conjoint sessions with couples or families, etc), (2) presenting issue, (3) average session hours, (4) client rating of session helpfulness, (5) rates of goal completion, (6) client withdrawal rates, (7) no show and late cancellation rates, and (8) pre/post client self-assessment. Specific to VC, we examined client geographic location. Results: Data analysis demonstrates that the VC and the IP showed a similar representation of presenting issues with nearly identical outcomes for client ratings of session helpfulness, rates of goal completion, pre/post client self-assessment, average session duration, and client geographic location. There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of withdrawal from counseling, no shows, and late cancellations between the VC and the IP counseling. The statistical analysis of the data was done on SPSS statistical software using 2-sample and pairwise comparison t tests at a 95% level of significance. Conclusions: Based on the study, VC and IP show similar outcomes in terms of client rating of session and goal attainment. [Med 2 0 2014;3(1):e3]

Background For highly stigmatized disorders, such as problem gambling, Web-based counseling has the potential to address common barriers to treatment, including issues of shame and stigma. Despite the exponential growth in the uptake of immediate synchronous Web-based counseling (ie, provided without appointment), little is known about why people choose this service over other modes of treatment. Objective The aim of the current study was to determine motivations for choosing and recommending Web-based counseling over telephone or face-to-face services. Methods The study involved 233 Australian participants who had completed an online counseling session for problem gambling on the Gambling Help Online website between November 2010 and February 2012. Participants were all classified as problem gamblers, with a greater proportion of males (57.4%) and 60.4% younger than 40 years of age. Participants completed open-ended questions about their reasons for choosing online counseling over other modes (ie, face-to-face and telephone), as well as reasons for recommending the service to others. Results A content analysis revealed 4 themes related to confidentiality/anonymity (reported by 27.0%), convenience/accessibility (50.9%), service system access (34.2%), and a preference for the therapeutic medium (26.6%). Few participants reported helpful professional support as a reason for accessing counseling online, but 43.2% of participants stated that this was a reason for recommending the service. Those older than 40 years were more likely than younger people in the sample to use Web-based counseling as an entry point into the service system (P=.045), whereas those engaged in nonstrategic gambling (eg, machine gambling) were more likely to access online counseling as an entry into the service system than those engaged in strategic gambling (ie, cards, sports; P=.01). Participants older than 40 years were more likely to recommend the service because of its potential for confidentiality and anonymity (P=.04), whereas those younger than 40 years were more likely to recommend the service due to it being helpful (P=.02). Conclusions This study provides important information about why online counseling for gambling is attractive to people with problem gambling, thereby informing the development of targeted online programs, campaigns, and promotional material.

Este estudio, iniciado en el año 2008, tuvo como objetivo describir los factores de riesgo y las conductas de la salud sexual y reproductiva de una población universitaria. Se realizó un estudio observacional de corte transversal, con una muestra conformada por 491 estudiantes de una universidad de Bogotá. Los resultados muestran que el género predominante fue el femenino (63,1%,), con una edad promedio de 20,4±2,6 años; el 80% inició su actividad sexual y la edad entre los 15 y los 18 años. El método anticonceptivo más usado es el preservativo y el 37,9% tiene conocimientos escasos sobre anticoncepción. La prevalencia de infecciones de transmisión sexual es baja, pero sólo la mitad han recibido tratamiento. El 10% de la población se ha realizado la prueba para el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana. El 10% de la población ha presentado embarazos, de los cuales el 75,3% no han sido planeados y el 47,4% han terminado en aborto, de los cuales el 80% han sido inducidos.Hay cifras altas de antecedentes familiares de cáncer. El 84% de los hombres no se realizan el auto examen de testículo. En las mujeres, el 56% se realiza auto examen de seno. La prevalencia de citologías es baja (38%), no todas han reclamado el resultado y aquellas que presentaron anormalidades (78%) no recibieron tratamiento. El 86,9% de los estudiantes desean que la universidad desarrolle el programa de salud sexual y reproductiva; el medio preferido es la consulta personalizada y la página web con asesoría en línea. El análisis de los resultados permite anotar que los jóvenes requieren programas de promoción de la salud que conlleven a que éstos asuman su sexualidad con autonomía, responsabilidad e información adecuada, en el marco de sus derechos sexuales y reproductivos.

The risk of suffering mental health problems is high due to problems such as working away from home, language barriers, differences in culture, human relationships, and medical facilities. Therefore, we have developed an online counseling system to help treat mental health problems. This system prevents mental health problems from worsening due to negligence when they first appear. Online counseling using computers has important advantages, such as counseling without the limitations of time and space. The purpose of this wok is to progress from a drawing test to actual counseling via the internet. The focus in this paper is the drawing test. We explain the drawing test system for the Baum Test, which is a projective method using computers. Examinees draw by combining parts on the screen. Counselors conjecture mental states through visualization of the drawing process and the picture. It thus becomes possible to offer better care for the human heart by adding a drawing test system to the online counseling system.

This paper is aimed at identifying solution regarding counseling management of employees’ life problem including personal and work place problems. This paper involved the design, development and evaluation of Employee Needs Assessment Inventory (ENAI) functionality and usability among employees in Malaysia. This project used a quantitative approach called case study in the process of collecting data. In general, this project was divided into three phases: system requirements analysis, system design and development, and formative evaluation. The result from of ENAI formative evaluation had proven that the system could be able to record employees’ life problem (health, family, financial, spiritual, work issue, career, interpersonal relationship and work environment). Besides, the system can be used by three tiers (employees, employer and counselor) to access the counseling information, provide communication networking facility for a diversity user, and assist in the generation of reports and analysis, and also to support counseling management for the three tiers.

This research aims to investigate studies about online counseling both in Turkey and USA. It is designed as a case study and for the analysis of the data content analysis is used. Six studies on online counseling in Turkey are investigated within the scope of this study. Also six studies from the USA are investigated from EBSCOhost database, between the years of 2010 and 2014. Results indicate that researches about online counseling in the USA are more prone to investigate the effectiveness of this kind of distant helping than the studies which conducted in Turkey. In addition, researches in the USA are focused on counseling process and outcome, namely, therapeutic alliance, client satisfaction with online help, whether symptoms are reduced after the online treatment. Results also indicate that experimental research strategies are applied mostly in the researches about online counseling in the USA. On the other hand in Turkey, researches have just began about using information and communication technologies (ICT) in counseling and there is no experimental study about online counseling. Most of the studies in Turkey are related with clients’ and counselors’ views or perceptions about online counseling. All researches are designed as a descriptive model. In conclusion, researches in Turkey are needed to be developed and diversified by the researchers. In this context, it is thought that the comparison of the online counseling between researches in Turkey and the USA is crucial for the development of this field.

This paper reports on the end-user satisfaction evaluation of ENAI. It highlights the positive impact and effect of online web- based management system for counseling inventory. Participants have reported satisfaction with ENAI and the service impact within community of users is complementary. Improvement of ENAI can be made to enhance the end-user satisfaction by referring to the user's requirements.

2020