Online Counseling. a Handbook for Mental Health Professionals

Description

Providers and consumers of mental health services are increasingly making use of the internet to gather information, consult, and participate in psychotherapy. This Handbook gives practical insight into how professionals can translate their practice to an online medium. Divided into four sections, section one provides an overview of how the internet has become an integral part of people's lives, and the research to date on the use and effectiveness of counseling online, as well as idiosyncrasies of online behavior and communication. Section two discusses the ";practical"; aspects of counseling online, including technological issues, ethical and legal issues, and business issues. Section three focuses on performing psychotherapy online, including online treatment strategies and skills, working with online groups, online testing and assessment, and international and multicultural issues in online counseling. The last section discusses the future of online counseling.

The Handbook is intended for those professionals interested in the burgeoning telehealth movement and to those practicing therapists looking for ways to expand their practices online and/or to help round out treatment to specific patients who might benefit from online therapy in addition to traditional delivery.

Key Features

• Foreword by Morgan Sammons and Patrick DeLeon, past president of the American Psychological Association
• The first comprehensive textbook designed to give clinicians and mental health students everything they need to understand and start providing mental health services via the Internet
• Each chapter includes study questions and key terms, making it ideal for use in graduate or continuing education settings
• Includes clear and comprehensive chapters on research and technology related to online counseling
• Contributors include past, present, and elected presidents of the International Society for Mental Health Online (ISMHO), the Inernet's leading resource for professionals interested in online counseling and other methods of delivering mental health services via the Internet

Readership

Counseling and clinical psychologists.

Quotes

"Kraus, Zack, and Stricker provide a resource for these changing times in a health field where the demand is great. The technology is here and these editors provide a resource to help practitioners use all the techniques and delivery methods to everyone's advantage. This book is recommended."
-E-STREAMS

"...it has invaluable information for any mental health professional who deals with online technology to communicate with patients. Overall, this volume is a timely resource for those who are interested in learning how to translate their practice to an online medium... The impressive list of contributors has 22 names of authors with different backgrounds, including internationally recognized specialists... Part 2, Practical Aspects of Online Counseling, is a step-by-step start-up guide. It has a chapter on the technology involved, a separate chapter covering legal and ethical issues, and a chapter on business aspects of online counseling. This is the most practical part of the book and is the place to go for readers who are limited in time and just looking for an "operational manual" to move into online business. Part 3, Clinical Issues in Online Counseling, is an exploration of psychotherapeutic issues involved in treatment without personal contact with a patient. I think this would be of most interest for those who are planning to engage in any sort of counseling online..."
-THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY

"...an excellent resource for any mental health professionals who are considering starting an online counseling practice."
-Patricia Roles, www.e-mailtherapy.com

Table of Contents

P. DeLeon and M. Sammons, Foreword.
R. Kraus, J.S. Zack, and G. Stricker, Introduction.

Part I: The New Medium: History & Research
Michael Fenichel, Online Behavior, Communication, and Experience.
J. Suler, The Psychology of Text Relationships.
J. Grohol, Online Counseling: A Historical Perspective.
M.J. Mallen, Online Counseling Research.

Part II: The Practical Aspects of Online Counseling
J.S. Zack, The Technology of Online Counseling.
R. Kraus, Ethical and Legal Issues in Online Counseling.
R. Kraus and J.S. Zack, The Business of Online Counseling.

Part III: Clinical Issues in Online Counseling
E. Zelvin and C. Speyer, Online Counseling Skills Part I: Treatment Strategies and Skills for Conducting Counseling Online.
G. Stofle and P. Chechele, Online Counseling Skills Part II: In-Session Skills.
D. Bellafiore, Y. Colon, and P. Rosenberg, Online Counseling Groups.
A. Barak and T. Buchanan, Internet-Based Psychological Testing and Assessment.
A. Skinner and G. Latchford, International and Multicultural Issues in Online Counseling.

Part IV: A Look to the Future of Online Counseling
L. Holmes and M. Ainsworth, The Future of Online Counseling.
About the Contributors.

Author Information

Edited by Ron Kraus, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Metropolitan campus, Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.A.; President, International Society for Mental Health Online; George Stricker, Derner Institute, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, U.S.A. and Cedric Speyer, Co-founder, InnerView Guidance International; Clinical Supervisor, E-Counseling, Shepell•fgi, Toronto