The Trident Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that places value on interdisciplinary teamwork between mental health, justice and law related professionals including mediators; distance educators and trainers; supervisors and information technologists. The Foundation is involved in research and the development of tutoring and student support systems and legal education. The organization also offers individualized/customized counseling, mediation, training and supervision.
Definition Online counseling is defined generally as counseling that occurs through the application of cyber technology (American Counseling Association, 2003, p. 3). Relevant Technologies Fenichel (2002, p. 1; 2000, p. 1) refers to the development of counseling through telephone, teleconferencing and the Internet. Online counseling may take place in chat rooms, electronic messager, video conferencing, email, fax and/or phone (Barak, 1999, p. 12; King & Moreggi, 1998, p. 3; Trims, 2003b, p. 1). An Interdisciplinary Approach Professionals from a variety of backgrounds including psychology, psychotherapy, psychiatry, law, and education provide online counseling. (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 Canada, Australia, the United States and England. Applications Online counseling may assist mental health and law related professionals to help clients who live in remote areas and/or have limited time in which to avail themselves of face-to-face counseling (American Psychological Association, 2000, p. 1; Trims, 2003a, p. 1). Barak (1999, p. 10) suggests that some clients need online counseling because they are elderly, people with disabilities, have mobility problems and are uncomfortable with interpersonal communications. Online counseling is being offered to assist with problems associated with unemployment, grief, depression, abuse, addiction, adultery, anger, assertion, conflict management, eating disorders, family and couples related issues and stress (Barak, 1999, p. 5; Munro, 2002, p. 2; Rye & Rye, 2003, pp. 1 - 4). Key Benefits 1) Fenichel (2000, p. 6) and the International Society for Mental Health Online (2003, p. 2) refer to the benefits of asynchronous communications for professionals to connect with clients almost at any time. 2) Professionals may be able to make direct contact with clients without the need to communicate through third parties and to leave messages on telephone answering machines. This can help to safeguard confidential and privileged communications between professionals and clients. 3) Professionals will usually have time to draft and to reflect upon their written communications to clients. 4) Through written communications professionals are likely to have an electronic database of case materials that may assist with information management. This can assist professionals to develop Court related reports. 5) Online counseling can assist professionals to help clients who may be concerned about being involved in face-to-face counseling. 6) The International Society for Mental Health Online (2003, p. 1) and Grohol (2001, p. 1) indicate that some clients may not be unable to access assistance other than through online counseling. Key Challenges 1) Barak (1999, p. 17) suggests that a lack of standards for online counseling may allow unqualified and poorly qualified individuals to promote therapeutic services. This may cause harm to clients. 2) There is a lack of face-to-face communication to develop rapport in therapeutic relationships. 3) Professionals may not be able to assess the appearance, emotional state and identity of offenders. This lack of information may lead to challenges associated with developing integrated risk assessments. 4) Some clients may find it challenging to communicate their feelings and to negotiate therapeutic boundaries in writing (Barak, 1999, p. 11; Fenichel, 2000, p. 7; Suler, 2000,p.1). 5) The American Counseling Organisation (1999, p. 12) suggests that counselors may face challenges in maintaining the complete confidentiality of messages generated through computer-mediated communication. 6) Not all clients will benefit from online counseling and individuals in extreme emotional states should seek face-to-face support as soon as reasonably possible (Fenichel, 2002, p. 2; Munro, 2002, p. 1 & Sterling, 2003, p. 2) 7) Some professionals do not indicate on their websites that there may be some contraindications for online counseling. This lack of information may not allow clients to give their informed consent to being involved in online counseling. References for this article are available on request. ____________________________________ We invite you to learn more about the Trident Foundation and its services. For coverage of the area in which Trident is sited please see local imagery. Welcome! It is important for mental health professionals, lawyers, mediators, educators and trainers to collaborate for the benefit of clients and the public in international communities.
THE TRIDENT FOUNDATION
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