Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T13:51:49.217Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

School Counsellors’ and Students’ Attitudes to Online Counselling: A Qualitative Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2015

Kevin Glasheen ,
Marilyn Campbell  and
Ian Shochet
Kevin Glasheen*
Affiliation:
Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Marilyn Campbell
Affiliation:
Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Ian Shochet
Affiliation:
Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
*
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Kevin Glasheen, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Cultural and Professional Learning, A Block, Level 3, Room 325, Victoria Park Road Kelvin Grove Campus, Kelvin Grove QLD 4059, Australia. Email: k.glasheen@qut.edu.au
Get access

Abstract

An exploratory qualitative study was conducted to examine the perceptions and attitudes of both school counsellors and students to online counselling. Focus groups were conducted with two groups of school counsellors and six groups of secondary students. It was found that counsellors were hesitant to use online counselling because they were not convinced that it was effective, and without the necessary online skills, they were concerned they would not be competent to deal with potential litigious and security pitfalls. Students were generally positive about the opportunity to access the school counsellor online. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Keywords

online counsellingsecondary schoolsschool counsellorssecondary school studentsinternethelp-seeking
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 6 , 2015 , e12
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Addis, M.E., & Mahalik, J.R. (2003). Men, masculinity, and the contexts of help seeking. American Psychologist, 58, 5–14. doi:10.1037/0003-066x.58.1.5 Google Scholar
Ajzen, I. (2011). The theory of planned behaviour: Reactions and reflections. Psychology & Health, 26, 1113–1127. doi:10.1080/08870446.2011.613995 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). (2010). Trends in media use by children and young people: Insights from the Kaiser Family Foundation's Generation M2 2009(USA), and results from the ACMA's Media and communication in Australian families 2007. Retrieved from http://www.acma.gov.au/theACMA/acma-research-report-trends-in-media-use-by-children-and-young-people-generation-m2-usa-mcaf-2007-and-cpcla-2009-australia Google Scholar
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). (2013). Australia's mobile digital economy — ACMA confirms usage, choice, mobility and intensity on the rise. Retrieved from http://www.acma.gov.au/theACMA/Library/Corporate-library/Corporate-publications/australia-mobile-digital-economy Google Scholar
Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA). (2014). Aussie teens online. Retrieved from http://www.acma.gov.au/theACMA/aussie-teens-online Google Scholar
Avenevoli, S., Knight, E., Kessler, R.C., & Merikangas, K.R. (2008). Epidemiology of depression in children and adolescents. In Abela, J. & Hankin, B. (Eds.), Handbook of depression in children and adolescents (pp. 6–32). New York: Guilford.Google Scholar
Bambling, M., King, R., Reid, W., & Wegner, K. (2008). Online counselling: The experience of counsellors providing synchronous single-session counselling to young people. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 8, 110–116. doi: 10.1080/14733140802055011 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barak, A., Hen, L., Boniel-Nissim, M., & Shapira, N. (2008). A comprehensive review and a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of internet-based psychotherapeutic interventions. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 6, 109–160. doi:10.1080/15228830802094429 Google Scholar
Baron, J., Bierschwale, D., & Bleiberg, J.R. (2006). Clinical implications of students’ use of online communication for college psychotherapy. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 20, 69–77. doi:10.1300/J035v20n03_06 Google Scholar
Beattie, D., Cunningham, S., Jones, R., & Zelenko, O. (2006). ‘I use online so the counsellors can't hear me crying’: Creating design solutions for online counselling. Media International Australia Incorporating Culture and Policy, 118, 43–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boyd, C., Francis, K., Aisbett, D., Newnham, K., Sewell, J., Dawes, G., & Nurse, S. (2007). Australian rural adolescents’ experiences of accessing psychological help for a mental health problem. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 15, 196–200. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1584.2007.00884.x CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77–101. doi: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooper, M. (2006). Scottish secondary school students’ preferences for location, format of counselling and sex of counsellor. School Psychology International, 27, 627–638. doi:10.1177/0143034306073421 Google Scholar
Corbin, J., & Strauss, A. (2008). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cuijpers, P., Drost, L.M., & Schippers, G.M. (2011). Developing an interactive website for adolescents with a mentally ill family member. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 16, 351–364. doi:10.1177/1359104510366281 Google Scholar
Dincyurek, S., & Uygarer, G. (2012). Conduct of psychological counseling and guidance services over the internet: Converging communications. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 11, 77–81. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1584.2010.01136.x Google Scholar
Fletcher-Tomenius, L.J., & Vossler, A. (2009). Trust in online therapeutic relationships: The therapist's experience. Counselling Psychology Review, 24, 24–33.Google Scholar
Glaser, B., Strauss, G., & Anselm, L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative research. New York: Aldine Pub. Co.Google Scholar
Glasheen, K.J., & Campbell, M.A. (2009). The use of online counselling within an Australian secondary school setting: A practitioner's viewpoint. Counselling Psychology Review, 24, 42–51.Google Scholar
Hanley, T. (2006). Developing youth-friendly online counselling services in the United Kingdom: A small scale investigation into the views of practitioners. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 6, 182–185. doi:10.1080/14733140600857535 Google Scholar
Hanley, T. (2009). The working alliance in online therapy with young people: Preliminary findings. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 37, 257–269. doi:10.1080/03069880902956991 Google Scholar
Hanley, T. (2012). Understanding the online therapeutic alliance through the eyes of adolescent service users. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 12, 35–43. doi:10.1080/14733145.2011.560273 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heary, C., & Hennessy, E. (2002). The use of focus group interviews in pediatric health care research. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 27, 47–57. doi:10.1093/jpepsy/27.1.47 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Judd, F., Komiti, A., & Jackson, H. (2008). How does being female assist help-seeking for mental health problems? Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 42, 24–29. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00048670701732681 Google Scholar
Kids Helpline. (2003). Online counselling: Responding to young people's feedback. Kids Helpline Newsletter, November 3–4.Google Scholar
King, R., Bambling, M., Lloyd, C., Gomurra, R., Smith, S., Reid, W., & Wegner, K. (2006). Online counselling: The motives and experiences of young people who choose the Internet instead of face to face or telephone counselling. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 6, 169–174. doi:10.1080/14733140600848179 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
King, R., Bambling, M., Reid, W., & Thomas, I. (2006). Telephone and online counselling for young people: A naturalistic comparison of session outcome, session impact and therapeutic alliance. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 6, 175–181. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14733140600874084 Google Scholar
King, R., Shochet, I., & Hunt, C. (2005). The use of email in the therapy process. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 26, 10–20. doi:10.1002/j.1467-8438.2005.tb0063 Google Scholar
Leach, L.S., & Butterworth, P. (2012). The effect of early onset common mental disorders on educational attainment in Australia. Psychiatry Research, 199, 51–57. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2012.03.040 Google Scholar
Lehdonvirta, M., Nagashima, Y., Lehdonvirta, V., & Baba, A. (2012). The stoic male: How avatar gender affects help-seeking behavior in an online game. Games and Culture, 7, 29–47. doi:10.1177/1555412012440307 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lunt, P.T. (2004). Adolescents’ willingness to utilize online counseling. Unpublished doctoral thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.Google Scholar
Merriam, S. B. (2014). Qualitative research: A guide to design and implementation. Retrieved from http://QUT.eblib.com.au/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=1662771 Google Scholar
Murray, G., Judd, F., Jackson, H., Fraser, C., Komiti, A., Pattison, P., . . . Robins, G. (2008). Big boys don't cry: An investigation of stoicism and its mental health outcomes. Personality and Individual Differences, 44, 1369–1381. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2007.12.005 Google Scholar
Myrick, R.D., & Sabella, R.A. (1995). Cyberspace: New place for counselor supervision. Elementary School Guidance and Counseling, 30, 35–45.Google Scholar
NSW Department of Education and Communities. (2011). Paper 1. The School Counselling Workforce in NSW Government Schools. Sydney, Australia: Author. Retrieved from http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/about-us/statistics-and-research/public-reviews-and-enquiries/school-counselling-services-review Google Scholar
Othman, M. (2000). The information highway and the readiness of counsellors in delivery of counselling services. In Pihie, Z., Harun, L., & Yee, K. (Eds.), Proceedings of education and ICT in the new millennium (pp. 225–230). Serdang: Universiti Putra Malaysia.Google Scholar
Owen, D.W., & Weikel, W.J. (1999). Computer utilization by school counsellors. Professional School Counseling, 2, 179–183.Google Scholar
Patton, M.Q. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.) Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Peterson-Sweeney, K. (2005). The use of focus groups in pediatric and adolescent research. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 19, 104–110. doi:10.1016/j.pedhc.2004.08.006 Google Scholar
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants, Part 1. On the Horizon, 9, 1–6. doi:10.1108/10748120110424816 Google Scholar
Raco, E. (2014, July 1). Aussie teens online [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://www.acma.gov.au/theACMA/engage-blogs/engage-blogs/Research-snapshots/Aussie-teens-online Google Scholar
Raviv, A., Raviv, A., Vago-Gefen, I., & Fink, A.S. (2009). The personal service gap: Factors affecting adolescents’ willingness to seek help. Journal of Adolescence, 32, 483–499. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2008.07.004 Google Scholar
Reid, W. (1996). School counselling: A client centred perspective. Kids Helpline. Retrieved from kidshelp.com.au/upload/1876.pdf Google Scholar
Rhodes, R.E., & Courneya, K.S. (2003). Modelling the theory of planned behaviour and past behaviour. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 8, 57–69. doi:10.1080/1354850021000059269 Google Scholar
Richards, D., & Viganò, N. (2013). Online counseling: A narrative and critical review of the literature. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69, 994–1011. doi:10.1002/jclp.21974 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rickwood, D.J., Deane, F.P., & Wilson, C.J. (2007). When and how do young people seek professional help for mental health problems? Medical Journal of Australia, 187, S35–39.Google Scholar
Ryan, M.L., Shochet, I.M., & Stallman, H.M. (2010). Universal online interventions might engage psychologically distressed university students who are unlikely to seek formal help. Advances in Mental Health, 9, 73–83. doi:10.5172/jamh.9.1.73 Google Scholar
Santor, D.A., Poulin, C., LeBlanc, J.C., & Kusumakar, V. (2007). Online health promotion, early identification of difficulties, and help seeking in young people. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 741–752. doi:10.1097/01.chi.0000242247.45915.ee Google Scholar
Sawyer, M.G., Arney, F.M., Baghurst, P.A., Clark, J.J., Graetz, B.W., Kosky, R.J., . . . Zubrick, S.R. (2001). The mental health of young people in Australia: Key findings from the child and adolescent component of the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 35, 806–814. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1614.2001.00964.x CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sawyer, M., Miller-Lewis, L., & Clark, J. (2007). The mental health of 13- to 17-year-olds in Australia: Findings from the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36, 185–194. doi:10.1007/s10964-006-9122-x Google Scholar
Sheffield, J.K., Fiorenza, E., & Sofronoff, K. (2004). Adolescents’ willingness to seek psychological help: Promoting and preventing factors. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 33, 495–507. doi:10.1023/B:JOYO.0000048064.31128.c6 Google Scholar
Smith, C.L. (2012). Mental health and help-seeking in adolescence. Australasian Epidemiologist, 19, 5–8.Google Scholar
Subrahmanyam, K., & Greenfield, P. (2008). Online communication and adolescent relationships. Future of Children, 18, 119–146.Google Scholar
Suler, J. (2005). The online disinhibition effect. International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies, 2, 184–188. doi:10.1089/1094931041291295 Google Scholar
Tanrikulu, İ. (2009). Counselors-in-training students’ attitudes towards online counseling. Procedia — Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1, 785–788. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2009.01.140 Google Scholar
Thiekling, M. (2006). An investigation of attitudes towards the practice of school-based psychological services. Unpublished doctoral thesis, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Australia.Google Scholar
Thapar, A., Thapar, A.K., Collishaw, S., & Pine, D.S. (2012). Depression in adolescence. The Lancet, 379, 1056–1067. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60871-4 Google Scholar
Vinluan, L.R. (2011). The use of ICT in school guidance: Attitudes and practices of guidance counselors in metro Manila, the Philippines. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 33, 22–36. doi:10.1007/s10447-010-9110-4 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, R., Bambling, M., King, R., & Abbott, Q. (2009). In-session processes in online counselling with young people: An exploratory approach. Counselling & Psychotherapy Research, 9, 93–100. doi:10.1080/14733140802490606 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wright, J. (2002). Online counselling: Learning from writing therapy. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 30, 285–298. doi:10.1080/030698802100002326 CrossRefGoogle Scholar