Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: This paper provides an overview of online counseling and new technologies in the counseling field. Online counseling is defined. Forms of online counseling are analyzed finding that email and instant messaging have become the most widely used methods for counseling purposes. A review of computer technologies and counseling history from the 1950s to today is also examined. Finally, the author presents an overview of the current literature regarding effectiveness studies and the ethical and moral dilemmas that new technologies pose for the future. Sufficient research is lacking, but a variety of studies provide evidence of the effectiveness of online counseling. Results indicate that highly structured interventions yield positive results in the majority of cases. Assuring confidentiality and security measures are the two most prevalent ethical dilemmas found in the literature. These two, as well as other ethical issues of importance, are analyzed.
Author: Julia Aguilar Reyes
Language: English
Subfield: Applied Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3034720806