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Is online counseling right for you?
Online advice is not new. Other terms for online counseling include etherotherapy, online therapy, cybertherapy and internet counseling. Almost 10 years have passed since I first offered online counseling. Experts feared that online counselors would try to replace traditional face-to-face psychotherapy. Many psychotherapists now offer online counseling or at least use technology to improve relationships with existing clients. Wouldn't it be great if you could get advice without having to worry about planning your commute? Many people find that online counseling is easier, more convenient and more cost-effective. The idea of connecting from home or almost anywhere with wireless...
Is online counseling right for you?
Online advice is not new. Other terms for online counseling include etherotherapy, online therapy, cybertherapy and internet counseling. Almost 10 years have passed since I first offered online counseling. Experts feared that online counselors would try to replace traditional face-to-face psychotherapy. Many psychotherapists now offer online counseling or at least use technology to improve relationships with existing clients.
Wouldn't it be great if you could get advice without having to worry about planning your commute? Many people find that online counseling is easier, more convenient and more cost-effective. The idea of logging in from home or almost anywhere with wireless internet and a laptop is very attractive.
How is online counseling carried out? Email, chat and webcam are the most common delivery methods. Some therapists offer counseling in virtual worlds such as Second Life. However, most of the time online advice is text-based, meaning the usual hearing and sight guidance is not available. Some describe email therapy as similar to correspondence. Chat therapy has a conversational style and is more easily compared to the process of traditional psychotherapy. With technological advancements, webcams offer more decisive images than just a few years ago. Webcams reintroduce the audio and video components into the process. Each of these delivery methods may be used individually or in conjunction with each other.
If you are interested in online counseling, be sure to choose a therapist who understands the importance of confidentiality and offers an alternative to traditional chat and email. Ideally, your communications should be secure and encrypted and there are various free encryption options available that are very user-friendly. Many therapists who practice online have additional training, ideally indicating a certain level of competence. Therapists who have received additional training usually disclose the training on their website. Therapists can become certified as a Distance Credentialed Counselor (DCC). This designation indicates basic expertise, and the certification is offered by the Center for Credentialing Education and the National Board of Certified Counselors. Additionally, you should be able to verify a therapist's other credentials. At a minimum, expect your therapist to be able to practice independently. In the United States, this is usually indicated by a state license.
Organizations that support professionalism in the field of online counseling include the International Society of Mental Health Online (ISMHO) ismho.org and the American Distance Counseling Association (ADCA). [http://www.adca-online].
Alternative practitioner psychotherapy
The best place to find alternative practitioners psychotherapy is in our free alternative practitioner directory. To view all alternative psychotherapy practitioners, please click here.