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Online Counseling: A Narrative and Critical Review of the Literature
Author(s) -
Richards Derek,
Viganó Noemi
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.124
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1097-4679
pISSN - 0021-9762
DOI - 10.1002/jclp.21974
Subject(s) - psychology , cyberspace , anonymity , narrative , psychotherapist , applied psychology , clinical psychology , social psychology , medical education , the internet , medicine , computer science , world wide web , linguistics , philosophy , computer security
Objective This article aimed to critically review the literature on online counseling. Method Database and hand‐searches were made using search terms and eligibility criteria, yielding a total of 123 studies. Results The review begins with what characterizes online counseling. Outcome and process research in online counseling is reviewed. Features and cyberbehaviors of online counseling such as anonymity and disinhibition, convenience, time‐delay, the loss of social signaling, and writing behavior in cyberspace are discussed. Ethical behavior, professional training, client suitability, and clients’ and therapists’ attitudes and experiences of online counseling are reviewed. Conclusion A growing body of knowledge to date is positive in showing that online counseling can have a similar impact and is capable of replicating the facilitative conditions as face‐to‐face encounters. A need remains for stronger empirical evidence to establish efficacy and effectiveness and to understand better the unique mediating and facilitative variables.