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Helpful and unhelpful elements of synchronous text‐based therapy: A thematic analysis
Author(s) -
Dhesi Meera,
Sefi Aaron,
Donati Mark,
Hayes Jacqueline,
Cooper Mick
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
counselling and psychotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.38
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 1746-1405
pISSN - 1473-3145
DOI - 10.1002/capr.12414
Subject(s) - thematic analysis , anonymity , psychology , element (criminal law) , value (mathematics) , applied psychology , developmental psychology , clinical psychology , qualitative research , computer science , sociology , social science , computer security , machine learning , political science , law
Within the UK, there has been a growth of services delivering online therapy to young people. This study identifies the factors that young people find helpful and unhelpful in synchronous text‐based therapy (STBT), and the processes by which these factors may be of value. Thirteen young people, aged between 14 and 18, were interviewed synchronously online. All participants had had a minimum of four sessions of STBT. Data were analysed thematically. Four main domains of helpful and unhelpful factors were identified: 1) anonymity, 2) access, 3) communication, and 4) control. Control was a particularly important element for young people and was an underlying aspect across all themes. Young people not only valued several aspects of STBT but also recognised its limitations. Further research should explore the contexts in which online counselling may be helpful or not.