Counselling
Emotional pressure is a natural part of our lives. From time to time, that pressure can develop into stress that you may feel to be unbearable. This can be due to a gradual build up or perhaps a sudden unexpected incident. To reach such a situation and stage is not an indication of weakness, but rather a natural consequence of life's events. The dictionary definition of "counselling" covers:
There are many forms of counselling that are guided by a number of accepted theories. The Foundation provides online and/or face-to-face counselling to assist participants who may be isolated both in terms of time and space. __________________________ Is Online Counselling A Fad? Online Counselling with Women Offenders by the Director (BSW, MSW, MDED, MED, Master [Social Policy], PhD [Cand]). It is the position of the writer that online counselling with women offenders may be a potential new service approach that could assist some women offenders in some situations. There is a growing body of literature on online counselling and its relationship to personal and social development. Some professionals have argued that online counselling is a fad amongst those counsellors and clients who look for a quick-fix solution to personal and social problems experienced by clients. The concept of online counselling has captured the attention of the American Counselling Association and the American Psychological Association. While interest in and use of the concept has increased, a critical review and synthesis of the literature on online counselling does not currently exist. Such an integrative review together with field research will serve to “shed light” on the methodological approaches, and implications of online practices with women offenders in the criminal justice system. i) Online Counselling Cambridge Strategies Inc. (2003, pp. 12 - 14) indicates that offender rehabilitation may involve counselling, further education and training. Developments with Internet based technologies give rise to new approaches that may transcend geographical location and time. The writer’s background in distance education and clinical practice suggests to her that the virtual presence of the counsellor may be brought about through online counselling (Jenkins, Price & Straker, 2002, p. 67). This is not to underestimate the effectiveness of face-to-face counselling (Fenichel, 2002b, p. 1). Fenichel (2002a, p. 1; 2002b, p. 1) refers to the development of psychotherapy through telephone, teleconferencing and the Internet. Online counselling may take place in chat rooms, electronic messager, video conferencing, email, fax and phone (Barak, 1999, p. 12; King & Moreggi, 1998, p. 3; Trims, 2003b, p. 1). Professionals from a variety of backgrounds including psychology, psychotherapy, psychiatry, law, and education provide online counselling. (Barak, 1999, p. 1; Munro, 2002, p. 1; Rye & Rye, 2003; Suler, 2000, p. 1; Sterling, 2003, p. 1; Trims, 2003b, p.1). These professionals are from such countries as Australia, Canada, the United States and England. Fenichel (2002b, p. 6) and the International Society for Mental Health Online (2003, p. 2) refer to the benefits of asynchronous communications for counsellors to connect with offenders almost at any time. Online counselling may assist counsellors and other mental health professionals to help offenders who live in remote areas and/or have limited time in which to consult with professionals (American Psychological Association, 2003, p. 1; Trims, 2003a, p. 1). Online counselling is being offered to assist with problems associated with unemployment, grief, depression, abuse, addiction, adultery, anger, assertion, conflict, eating disorders, couples and family issues, sexuality and stress (Barak, 1999, p. 5; Munro, 2002, p. 2; Rye & Rye, 2003, pp. 1 - 4). Offenders who are transitioning from prison to the community may experience challenges associated with anxiety, isolation and maladaptive lifestyles. Caveats Barak (1999, p. 17) suggests that a lack of standards for online counselling may allow unqualified and poorly qualified individuals to promote therapeutic services. This may cause harm to women offenders and may lead them to relapse. Fenichel (2002b, p. 2) suggests that online counselling may not be appropriate for women offenders who experience “extreme psychopathology”. Munro (2002, p. 1) and Sterling (2003, p. 2) suggest that offenders who are suicidal should contact suicide crisis centres. Fenichel (2002b, p. 7) and Suler (2000, p. 1) refer to other disadvantages of online counselling as including lack of face-to-face communication. Furthermore, the American Counselling Association (1999, p. 12) suggests that counsellors may face challenges in maintaining the complete confidentiality of messages generated through computer-mediated communication. ii) Professionals Macdonald (1999, p. 35, 103, 171, 174) mentions that professionals can be altruistic and become “public spirited”. Biestek (1957, p.i) and James & Gilliland (2000, p. 609) refer to the significance of the mutual relationship between the person seeking assistance and the professional. Online counselling may be a means of building a relationship between counsellors and women offenders. In some situations online counselling could escalate inequities in power between counsellors and offenders. Online counsellors should be competent to assist women offenders in part by lessening power imbalances. Vickers (1995, p. 74) suggests that competency is associated with the balancing of training, qualifications, professional status, adequacy of intervention, understanding, aptitudes, values and judgments. The American Counselling Association (1999, pp. 12-13) suggests that a competent online counsellor will advise offenders that the confidentiality of their electronic communications may not be safeguarded. Counsellors will advise women offenders of other risks, benefits and processes that may be involved in online counselling (International Society for Mental Health Online, 2003, p. 1). Offenders will ideally then be in a position to be able to make informed decisions as to whether or not to continue with online counselling. Professionals may constitute a ruling class that maintains the position of the powerful in our society (Smith, 1998, p. 3, p. 58). Professionals such as those related to law, health, education, universities, sociology and the Church may give rise to institutionalized ways of knowing (Norton, 2002, p. 122; Shawver, 1999, p. 4; Smith, 1998, p. 77). Health and law are two institutions amongst many that may impact upon professionals who work with women offenders in the criminal justice system. “Institutional” practices may include a complex set of relationships that are constitutive of the ruling class (Smith, 1998, pp. 160-202). These relationships may be organized around a particular social function such as health, law and/or education (Tobey, 1998, p. 3). Institutional practices may be shaped through such elements as ideology, everyday processes, systems of classification and broader theories about society. iii) Offenders Institutional practices may create barriers for counsellors and other mental health professionals who assist women offenders. In work with women offenders’ counsellors may face many challenges. Women offenders may be reluctant to enter into treatment even if they are able to access therapeutic programs (King, 1995, p. 1; Siegmund, 2003, p. 1). In work with offenders it is important to adjust interventions and treatments, such as online counselling to address the level of risk the offender is to herself and/or others. Offenders with special needs, such as women, may require programs and services that meet their particular needs such as group work, self-help networks, individual counselling and peer support (Fischer-Bloom, 1995, p.2). Due to the relatively low number of women who are imprisoned in comparison to men, psychological and human service practice and informed risk assessment with these offenders is still developing (McLean 1995, p. 43; Siegmund, 2003, p. 1). Women offenders may well experience difficulties with emotional and mental health problems and may be particularly prone to depression and self-injurious behaviours (McLean, 1995, p. 44, p. 49). This and a lack of treatment could lead to problems for women when adjusting to life outside the prison. Before entering into online counselling with offenders it is important to undertake a risk assessment. Language used and diagnostic and risk assessment tools based upon male populations may be of limited value in work with women offenders and particularly Aboriginal women offenders (McLean, 1995, p. 45). Online counselling may be a useful new approach with some women offenders in some situations. These situations could include instances where women offenders may not have access to counselling otherwise, to supplement face-to-face counselling sessions and as a means to encourage offenders to ultimately seek face-to-face counselling (Fenichel, 2002b, p. 1). The International Society for Mental Health Online (2003, p. 1) and Grohol (2001, p. 1) suggest that some women offenders may be unable to access assistance other than through online counselling. The role of on-line counselling as a potential new approach to assist professionals in their work with women offenders in the criminal justice system is currently unknown. iv) References American Counselling Association (1999). ACA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. USA: American Counselling Association American Psychological Association (2003). Ethics APA statement on services by telephone, teleconferencing and Internet. USA: American Psychological Association http://www.apa.org/ethics/stmnt01.html Cambridge Strategies Inc. (2003). A Single Trial Court as a Focus for Reform and a Catalyst for Change. Edmonton: Alberta Justice Barak, A. (1999). Psychological Applications on the Internet: A Discipline on the Threshold of a New Millennium. Applied and Preventive Psychology. 8, 231-246 http://construct.haifa.ac.il/~azy/app-r.htm Fenichel, M. (2002a). Symposium on Internet-based Therapy And Communication. USA: fenichel.com http://www.fenichel.com/ismhopanel-f.shtml Fenichel, M. (2002b). The On-line Clinical Case Study Group of the International Society for Mental Health On-line. A Report from the Millennium Group. USA: fenichel.com http://www.fenichel.com/On-lineCase.html Fisher-Bloom, E. (1995). The Impact of Learning Disabilities on Correctional Treatment, Offender Treatability, 7 (3) Canada: Forum on Corrections Research Grohol, J. (2001). Best Practices of Etherapy. Clarifying the Definition of e-therapy. US: PsychCentral.com http://www.psychcentral.com/best/best5.htm International Society for Mental Health On-line (2003). Suggested Principles for the On-line Provision of Mental Health Services http://www.ismho.org/suggestions.html James, R. & Gilliland, B. (2001). Crisis Intervention Strategies (4th edition). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thompson Learning. Jenkins, S., Price, C.J. & Straker, L. (1998). Developing a research question. The Researching Therapist: A Practical Guide to Planning, Performing and Communicating Research. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 21-26 King, M.C. (1995). Foreward. T.A. Leis, L.LKing, M.C. (1995). Foreword. T.A. Leis, L.L. Motiuk and J.R.P. Ogloff (Ed.), Forensic Psychology Policy and Practice in Corrections. Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada King, S. A & Moreggi, D. (1998). Internet therapy and self help groups - the pros and cons. J. Gackenbach (Ed.), Psychology and the Internet: Intrapersonal, Interpersonal and Transpersonal Implications. San Diego, CA: Academic Press. 77-109 Macdonald, K. (1999). The Sociology of the Professions. (2nd edition). London: Sage McLean, H. (1995). Psychological Assessment of Women Offenders. T.A. Leis, L.L. Motiuk and J.R.P. Ogloff (Ed.), Forensic Psychology Policy and Practice in Corrections. Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada Munro, K. (2002). On-line Therapy Resources. Canada: KaliMunro.com http://kalimunro.com/on-line_counselling8.html Rye, J. & Rye, N. (2003). The Problems People Raise. Norfolk: eDotCounsellor http://www.edotcounsellor.com/problems.html Shawver, L. (1999). Dictionary for this study of the Works of Michel Foucault. California: Rathbone http://www.california.com/~rathbone/foucau10.htm Siegmund, R. (2003). Corrections programs hitting women hard. On-line Pioneer. Ontario: On-line Pioneer http://www.thepioneer.com/april19_rehab.htm Smith, D.E. (1998). The Everyday World as Problematic. A Feminist Sociology. Toronto: University of Toronto Press Sterling, R. (2003). All About On-line Counselling. Seattle: Wapsychiatry.com http://www.wapsychiatry.com/her2help.htm Suler, J. (2000). Hypothesis about On-line Psychotherapy and Clinical Work. Lawrenceville, NJ: Rider University http://www.rider.edu/~suler/psycyber/workinghyp.html Tobey, R.C. (1998). Michel Foucault’s Interpretive Analytics. California: University of California http://www.horuspublications.com/guide/cm108.html Trims, L. (2003). Profile. Queensland: Proactive Coaching.net. http://www.proactivecoaching.net Vickers, A. (1995). Critical Appraisal: How to read a clinical research paper. Complementary Therapies in Medicine 13, 158-166
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The Foundation is well informed about theories in counselling. In practice, the Foundation strives to provide an ambience which will enable clients and staff to jointly explore the problems and concerns troubling the clients at this time in their lives. Please contact the Foundation, and you will communicate confidentially with a friendly and concerned mediator and/or counsellor. This person will assist you to address your problems and concerns. The Foundation can provide counselling in the following areas:
The Trident Mediation Counselling and Support Foundation, is committed to providing a quality support service to assist individuals, families, groups, organizations and communities to achieve their maximum desired potential. The Director of the Foundation, Jennifer Geary, is pleased to be a member of a number of innovative professional organisations including the International Society for Mental Health Online. <
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