Online counselling services in Australia –the challenges of a new vehicle
for an old Art.
Renee Gedge, Lecturer, School of Computer Science and Software
Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, 3145.
Email: renee.gedge@infotech.monash.edu.au
Keywords
on-line counselling, e-therapy, internet therapy, on-line ethics,
Abstract
This paper reports the results of a survey of Australian-based on-line
counselling services and discusses the potential advantages and disadvantages
of this type of service. Unique practical and ethical problems may arise
for therapists and clients, particularly where a service has a global
rather than local focus. Conversely, on-line counselling provides opportunities
for the provision of services to client groups who would otherwise probably
not use a counselling service. Methods of online counselling currently
in use were found to vary from insecure email exchange to real-time
web video conferencing. Payment methods, fee structures, security measures,
acknowledgement of ethical problems, legal disclaimers, and apparent
authenticity of practitioners also vary widely even within the small Australian
practitioner base. The possible impact of these variables on issues including
ethics and client confidence are discussed.
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