As technology continues to advance society will look for the most convenient method of getting their personal, professional, mental and social needs meet. The internet offers us many ways of communicating with friends, families and various other professionals without leaving the privacy of our homes. According to Sutton( 2010) “People reach out for help on the internet because they are anxious to connect with someone as they experience emotions like sadness, frustration, loneliness, and confusion”.

Although internet counseling is convenient, does it really meet the need of the individual seeking help? For example, as a crisis phone counselor, these are my main concerns: when engaging in conversation with clients via the telephone are confidentiality, determining the severity of their crisis and providing the client with the proper resources to ensure their needs are being met. Due to the lack of physical contact, the biggest challenge of my position is determining if the information provided warrants immediate action. The counselor has a responsibility whether services are face-to-face or online to provide the client with adequate information on the types of services available, expectation of the counseling session, credentials, and their right to privacy. According to ACA standard A.2.a remarks, “Clients have the right to choose …need adequate information about the counseling session and the counselor. Counselors have an obligation to review in writing and verbally with clients the rights and responsibilities… Informed consent is an ongoing part …counselors appropriately document discussions of informed consent throughout the counseling relationship”. Individuals seek counseling to receive fulfillment while revealing their most personal issues or concerns. Although the client is responsible for their own actions, they look for guidance in determining what will make their wrong in life better. Clients expect the counselor to be honest, empathic and provide them with a feeling of security when communicating their most intimate information via the internet.

However, it is questionable whether clients reveal more information face-to-face versus online. Based on the tone of the counselor via online counseling, clients may be more apt to revealing confidential information to someone who has no personal attachment to them other than the internet. Mallen, Day, and Green (2003) stated, “Individuals offered more accurate information about themselves when filling out questionnaires while using a computer than when completing the same form on paper or through a face-to-face interview”. Additionally, counselors may be less prone in disclosing personal or professional experiences that may enhance the online relationship due to a lack of physical connection.
Although there are many disadvantages as well as advantages, according to Mallen, Day, and Green (2003) “Psychotherapist experts predict that internet therapy services would be the second fastest increasing service area in the next ten years”. It is very difficult for a client is deciding whether counseling is an appropriate means for their problems. Regardless of the form in which counseling is being rendered, it is important for the counselor to remain focus on the most effective approach or technique that is most conducive to the emotional, mental and physical well being of the client. American Counseling Association code A.1.a comments, “The primary responsibility of counseling is to respect the dignity and to promote the welfare of clients”.

Smith and Reynolds (2002), provide the consumers with some of the most leading benefits of internet counseling: “the ability to reach clients in remote areas or …therapist due to lack of transportation or physical disability, the ability to establish a permanent record of the therapeutic communication, the ability to access psychotherapist with specialized training, and the ability for clients to reveal information more freely”. More so, Smith and Reynolds (2002) share a few disadvantage for the internet users:”issues of confidentiality, risk management, the inability to verify the provider and the provide credentials and competence, the inability to provide appropriate level of clinic care, and the inability to appropriately discern cultural nuances”.

Internet counseling is swiftly making its way into the mental health and social services professions. It would be most beneficial for agencies to get a head start and conduct surveys throughout the community in order to gain more insight on the consumer’s future interested of internet counseling. Many years ago, society, had to call or go visit one another to maintain friendships. Now days, texting, email, face-book, and various other social networking sites, interfere with the intimacy of the physical contact. Several studies have administered questionnaires to the client in determining the effectiveness of internet counseling versus face-to-face (Mallen, Day, Green, 2003). The questionnaire asked the client to reveal on a scale of one to six the efficacy of satisfaction, closeness, and recalled facts in face-to-face and internet counseling. Individuals who choose to receive counseling via the internet did not experience the same level of closeness and satisfaction as quickly as those in physical connection with the counselor did. (Mallen, Day, Green, 2003)

Counselors interested in providing internet services to individuals must be aware of self and culturally sensitive. An effective counselor will put in place the necessary tools to determine any cultural issues that may impede the consumer meeting their program goal. According to ACA, code of ethics E.5.b remarks “counselors recognized the culture affects the manner in which clients problems are defined. Clients…. are considered when diagnosing mental disorders”.

Next, the previous information has provided you with insight on the advantages and disadvantages on internet counseling. Additionally, Ragusea and VandeCreek mention there are several ethical and legal options that necessitate our attention through internet counseling: “ privacy and confidentiality, skill level of counselor and client using technology as a means for counseling, emergency resources, client appropriateness for therapy, advertising, fees and disclosure”. Counselors have a moral, ethical and legal obligation to decline services to a client if they are not competent enough to guide an individual to a more stable mental and physical soundness.

Finally, prior to entering into any counseling session whether it is face-to-face or online; the consumer should adhere to the following questions: Who will be providing the counseling services? What type of technology is being used? What are the laws in your state for internet counseling? What are my rights to privacy and confidentiality? What is the method of treatment? The previous questions will ensure the safety of counselor as well as the client from any potential lawsuits, the client being of harm to self or others, unethical practices, and disagreements.


References
Herlihy, B., & Remley, T.P. (2010). ACA code of ethics. Ethical, legal and professional issues in counseling (pp.388-404) Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Merrill-Pearson
Mallen, M.J., Day,S.X., & Green, M.A., (2003). Online versus face-to-face conversations: An examination of relational and disclosure variables. Educational Publishing Foundation, 40(1/2), 155-163.10.1037/0033-3204.40
Ragusea, A.S., & VandeCreek,L., (2003). Suggestions for the ethical practice of online psychotherapy. Educations Publishing Foundation,40(1/2),94-102.10.1037/0033-3204
Smith,S.D., & Reynolds,C. (2002). Cyber-psychotherapy. Retrieved from: http://questia.com/googleScholar.qst:jsessionid=MpBCr9fhcps9gFnypQrGPNmnGj
Sutton,D., (2010). What is internet counseling? Benefits of online counselors include anonymity, fast responses. Retrieved from http://counseling.suite101.com/article.cfm/internet-counseling