Online Counseling Research Articles

Online Therapy for Children: Yay or Nay? Clinicians’ Insights from the COVID-19 Era

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated an almost overnight shift in mental healthcare from in-person to remote delivery. However, the feasibility of online therapy for children and its potential as a long-term fixture remain underexplored. Objective This study aimed to explore the advantages, disadvantages, and suitability of online therapy for children, as perceived by pediatric clinicians delivering remote psychological interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method Six qualified child psychologists with limited pre-pandemic online therapy experience were surveyed about their perspectives on online therapy for children using a qualitative descriptive approach. Data was analyzed using thematic network analysis. Results Analysis revealed themes relating to: issues encountered in the areas of technology, resource availability, and therapeutic alliance; perceived advantages in children being digital natives, and online therapy’s wide accessibility; and (un)suitability of specific client profiles and therapeutic techniques. Conclusions Psychological interventions delivered via videoconferencing are not suitable for all children, but can be greatly beneficial for some. Client- and intervention-specific findings from this study can be used to guide future research aimed at clinical practice, developing tailored approaches, and informing policy for improving access to pediatric mental healthcare.

The Impact and Future of Teletherapy in Mental Health Support

Teletherapy, a digital form of mental health support, has become an essential aspect of psychological care, driven by technological advancements and evolving societal needs. This paper examines the evolution, benefits, and challenges of teletherapy, emphasizing its accessibility, especially for underserved populations. It highlights innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) and secure messaging and discusses ethical considerations like confidentiality and informed consent. Despite limitations, such as technical barriers and reduced non-verbal communication, teletherapy is poised to grow, offering flexible, accessible mental health services. The future of teletherapy will likely see further integration with emerging technologies, potentially reshaping the landscape of mental health care. Keywords: Teletherapy, mental health support, digital therapy, online therapy, telehealth, accessibility.

Web-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for adults living with cancer: A Single Case Experimental Design (SCED)

A randomised multiple-baseline design assessed the preliminary efficacy of a low-intensity, minimally-guided, online, self-help Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) intervention for people affected by cancer on quality of life (QoL), psychological symptoms, psychological flexibility, and level of interference from pain and fatigue. Acceptability and feasibility was also assessed. Adult participants (n = 7) had either completed cancer treatment within the last 18 months or were currently receiving treatment. Participants were randomly assigned to a baseline length of 1-3 weeks prior to completing the six-week ACT intervention, followed by a one-month follow-up. At pre- and post-intervention, and one-month follow-up, cancer-specific QoL, psychological symptoms (anxiety and depression), and psychological flexibility were assessed using standardised questionnaires. Single-item daily ratings of mood, anxiety, psychological flexibility, and bother ratings of pain and fatigue were also assessed. Questionnaire data were analysed using reliable and clinically significant change. Daily measures were analysed using visual and Tau-U analysis. Participants reported less negative impact of cancer on QoL (n = 3: CancerDQoL), fewer depressive symptoms (n=5: HADS depression) and greater psychological flexibility (n=3: MPFI) at follow-up. Daily measures showed improvements in self-reported mood (n=3), anxiety (n=3) and psychological flexibility (n=5) across different phase comparisons. Most participants (n=5) were significantly less bothered by fatigue at follow-up, and two were significantly less bothered by pain. Feedback from participants supported the acceptability of the intervention. The results provide preliminary support for the efficacy of the ACT intervention in reducing the negative impact of cancer on QoL, and improving self-reported psychological outcomes and psychological flexibility. Longitudinal studies utilising a larger sample are warranted.

Implementation of Digital-Based Counseling Media to Prevent and Handle Cases of Sexual Harassment Among Students in Higher Education

Theoretically, this study is the application of the counseling media model in higher education. The model needs to be developed in higher education, particularly digital-based ones, so that it can directly benefit students and the targeted higher education. Seiring perkembangan era digital, counseling services must adhere to the needs of the counselee with various increasingly complicated life issues. Untuk menjawab pertanyaan yang diajukan oleh peneliti, metode penelitian diperlukan. Analysis of Mixed Method Sequential Explanatory Designs is the research method used for this. The goal of this approach is to gather quantitative data about the use of the digital-based counseling media model, followed by descriptive interviews to validate the quantitative data findings. Purposive sampling or the researcher's considerations were used to take the sample. There are several ways to address and prevent sexual harassment in higher education, including creating a specific task force that works in institutional units under university supervision. These include the Counseling Service Unit (ULK) of UIN Kyai Abdurrahman Wahid (Gusdur), the Psychology Service Unit (ULP) of UIN Bandung, the Counseling Center of LPM UIN Surabaya, and several campuses that continue to handle sexual harassment cases using social media platforms like WhatsApp, Google Meet, and Zoom, such as Cirebon Islamic Institute, UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh, UIN Bangka Belitung, and UIN Kyai Ahmad Siddiq Jember. UIN Gusdur (https://cdc.uingusdur.ac.id/), UIN Surabaya @konseling_uinsa and UIN Bandung (https://ulp.uinsgd.ac.id) are examples of universities that use digital-based counseling medium. The Cirebon Islamic Institute, UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh, UIN Bangka Belitung, and UIN Kyai are further universities that offer online counseling. Counseling begins with registration and is conducted over social media platforms such as Zoom and Google Meet. The findings indicate that the latent element of digital-based counseling in addressing and avoiding sexual harassment in higher education has a t-value of 0.870 (> 0.05). The effectiveness of digital-based counseling is then at 0.608 (> 0.05), with these results having a substantial value, indicating that it has an impact on handling and preventing sexual harassment situations in universities.

Digital Tele-Counseling for Sustainable Maternal Health Services in Indonesia Focus on Telelactation

Breastfeeding is essential for infant health and development, yet Indonesia faces challenges in meeting global breastfeeding targets. This review examines the potential of tele-counseling (telelactation) as a solution to improve breastfeeding support in the digital era, focusing on overcoming geographical and service delivery barriers. A systematic literature search covering PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and local Indonesian journals identified 25 articles from 2019 to 2023, with 14 unique studies meeting inclusion criteria. Findings indicate that telelactation primarily utilizes WhatsApp groups, Androidbased apps, and online counseling sessions, resulting in improved breastfeeding techniques, increased exclusive breastfeeding rates, and enhanced maternal knowledge. However, privacy concerns and technological barriers persist, though these are addressed through specialized training and ongoing support for healthcare providers. Telecounseling demonstrates promise in supporting breastfeeding in Indonesia, though further research is needed to address geographical limitations and assess longterm impacts. Integrating telecounseling into national breastfeeding policies could significantly advance maternal and child health outcomes in Indonesia.

Introducing a new social cognition online therapy: SoCoBo

ABSTRACT Integrating technology-based therapies into existing treatment approaches has proven useful in the endeavour to improve impaired social cognition in patients with neurological diseases. To this end, we present a novel online-based therapy programme for the treatment of impairments of social cognition (“SoCoBo”), particularly tailored for patients with acquired brain injuries (ABIs). This study was designed to investigate the online therapy's feasibility including processing time and acceptability in a healthy older sample as, according to previous studies, older individuals show subtle impairments of social cognition. Between 50 and 52 participants (depending on outcome measures) underwent pre–post assessments, completed one out of three therapy modules (emotion recognition, perspective taking, social problem-solving) over a period of four weeks (four sessions per week) and evaluated the therapy concerning feasibility, acceptability and content aspects with a newly developed questionnaire. All modules showed comparable ratings on a low to moderate level in terms of feasibility, acceptability and content aspects, which seems plausible due to the sample under investigation. Processing time of the three modules was comparable for psychoeducation (mean 17.45 min) and training sessions (mean 21.91 min). The results provided important indications for necessary adjustments regarding a subsequently completed randomized controlled trial involving patients with ABIs.

From Traditional to Digital: Evaluating the Role of Spirituality in Mental Health and Therapy

The increasing number of mental health issues has obliged us to find new methods that are not only innovative but also so easy that they can be used by almost everybody. The given paper examines the progress and effect of the mental health and life- assisting chat-bot. The main idea of the chat-bot incorporates elements from the Bhagavad Gita, the ancient spiritual manual. Information was collected to measure the public's view of introducing spirituality into the traditional treatment, the results reveal that the majority back such a venture. A study (n=51) was conducted, and respondents were asked questions about their age, religion, opinion on spirituality and mental health, and choice for which method online therapy or traditional therapy. It was found that out of all the respondents, (80.4% aged 16-25) there was a large majority (88.2%) that mentioned the spiritual aspect of mental well- being. There were a lot (most responses were YES) of them have been into spiritual exercises when they faced the difficulties, they still believe that it still could be personalized intervention to use. Even as traditional therapy is the main option (70.6%), a significant number of respondents (29.4%) still feel comfortable with online help. Those research counterparts that focus on the role of technology in mental health improvements which tend to look to the public for a response, are the ones that discuss the chance for the Bhagavad-Gita chatbot as a supplementary tool. The proposed chatbot will make use of Natural Language Processing (NLP) in understanding a user query and generating an answer through reference to Bhagavad Gita. Key Words: Bhagavad Gita, Mental health, Chatbot, Spiritual therapy, Technology-assisted therapy

Psychological impact of physical distancing due to covid 19 pandemic on school and higher education students

MoHFW India, WHO, NHS, and CDC suggested imposing lockdown and closing educational institutions with the spread of covid 19 pandemic to reduce the risk of transmitting the disease. Students faced negative mental health symptoms due to unexpected transition from physical to virtual learning, increased screen time, physical distancing, altered habits, rumors through news, print media, social media, and other means. This study focuses on the psychological impact of covid 19 on school and higher education students due to psychosocial factors like physical distancing. 2140 students, mixed gender, in age from 17 years to 25 years (M = 22.73, SD = 6.12) are selected as sample population for the study. Mixed-method approach is used for data collection that include face to face interactions in clinics, Health Questionnaires & Self-Reports, online counseling to assess the stress & depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, rating scales for Behavior analysis, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale to assess perceived stress, depression, anxiety, and mental health & well-being, respectively. Analysis of data shows that 42.7% of school and higher education students have either depression or anxiety. 71.7% of students reported poor health and well-being. 36.7% of students reported fear of getting infected by virus, many students were reported with cognitive dissonance in myths and truths about Covid-19. 37.9% of students spend their time on media & social media, including watching TV or reading Covid-19 related news and information on various platforms. About 56.2% students reported with increased use of social media. There was a minor difference between depression and anxiety, as reported by females and male students, however expression of separation fear was slightly higher in male students than female students. Physical distancing and lack of social interaction caused stress, anxiety (GAD) and depression symptoms in students due to imbalances in hormones & neurotransmitters.

The Viability Of Artificial Intelligence In Therapy: A Textual Overview

Artificial Intelligence (AI) holds great importance in the world today. This paper explores the significance of Artificial Intelligence, mainly chatbots, for therapy. The paper also highlights the awareness of people regarding online therapy platforms in India. The primary data source for this research paper was secondary sources such as previously published research papers, articles, reports, etc. The aim of this research is to determine whether Artificial Intelligence is a viable alternative to offline therapy practiced by professional therapists. We find that while most people in India have not used AI platforms for therapy, those who have used them have responded positively. AI is seen as effective in providing therapy due to various reasons such as costeffectiveness, convenience in accessibility, and flexibility of time.

The Impact of Using Online Counseling Platforms and Virtual Community Support on Managing Work Stress among Young Professionals in Jakarta

This study investigates the effects of online counseling platforms and virtual community support on work-related stress management among young professionals in Jakarta. A quantitative methodology was employed, gathering data from 150 participants via a Likert scale (1-5), and analyzed with SPSS version 26. The findings indicated substantial beneficial correlations between online counseling platforms and virtual community support regarding job stress management. Multiple regression analysis indicated that virtual community support exerted a somewhat greater impact on stress management than online counseling platforms. Collectively, these interventions accounted for 49% of the variance in stress management, suggesting their efficacy in mitigating work-related stress. The findings indicate that combining professional therapy with peer support provides a holistic strategy for the mental well-being of young professionals in urban settings.

How Can it Really be Effective? Experiences of Asynchronous and Synchronous Learning in Online Counseling Graduate Programs

How Can it Really be Effective? Experiences of Asynchronous and Synchronous Learning in Online Counseling Graduate Programs

A 27‐year scoping review of practice and research in online counselor education

A 27‐year scoping review of practice and research in online counselor education

Comparison of outcomes from a university counselling service before and during COVID‐19: Exploring the use of remote therapy

AbstractBackgroundResearch pooling data from UK university counselling services (UCSs) has allowed UCSs to compare their outcomes and demonstrate their effectiveness in improving student mental health. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, UCSs moved to remote delivery. Consequently, it was necessary to understand how this impacted students' outcomes.AimsThis evaluation aimed to (1) understand how the therapeutic outcomes of a UCS compared with established norms in UK UCS literature, and (2) understand whether delivering therapy online affected student outcomes compared with UK norms from in‐person therapy.MethodSessional outcome data from 627 students who attended the UCS in the 2020/2021 academic year were gathered. Descriptive analyses of students' initial clinical data (determined by the CCAPS‐34) were conducted. Paired sample t‐tests determined differences between the pre‐ and post‐therapy scores. The effect size of this difference was derived.ResultsStudents presented with high levels of academic distress, social anxiety, generalised anxiety and depression. The initial severity of mental health concerns was lower than that reported in previous literature. The largest improvements were evidenced for depression and general anxiety and 25% (n = 112) of students achieved reliable reductions in distress. Compared with existing literature, the UCS showed similar levels of improvement over therapy. It is suggested that remote therapy increased service accessibility.ConclusionThe delivery of remote therapy produced results consistent with norms in the UK data, highlighting the effectiveness of online therapy for university students. Further large‐scale evaluations of student outcomes from remotely delivered therapy are recommended.

Randomised Controlled Trial for the Evaluation of the Efficacy of the IDA's "Living Well" Online Counselling Tool in First-Time Adult Users with Hearing Loss.

Effective management of hearing loss through the use of modern hearing aids significantly improves communication and the quality of life for individuals experiencing auditory impairment. Complementary counselling of patients with hearing loss who will be fitted with hearing aids for the first time should be evidence-based and adapted to their individual needs. To date, several counselling protocols and tools have been developed. The aim of this randomised controlled trial study was to investigate the efficacy of the application of the IDA's "Living Well" counselling tool in first-time hearing aid users in terms of the degree of their hearing related handicap (using the Hearing Handicap Inventory (HHI)), their communication coping strategies (using the Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired (CPHI)) and their overall satisfaction of the hearing aids (using a Likert scale). Both groups (the IDA and the control group) were fitted with hearing aids and received counselling for their hearing aids by the same audiologist. The IDA group attended an additional counselling session about communication coping strategies with the use of the "Living Well" tool. Both groups' participants were seen for their hearing aid fittings 4-6 weeks, 3 and 6 months after their fitting when the HHI and the CPHI were measured. Although there was not a statistically significant difference between the two groups for the primary and secondary outcomes, the IDA group did show a more consistent improvement of their HHI score and less frequent use of maladaptive strategies. The "Living Well" counselling tool proved to be a favourably received and helpful counselling tool in first-time hearing aid users.

E-Counseling : Mobile-Based Specialization System in Vocational Schools

Many students who will continue their studies to the high school level are confused about choosing a major. This is because most students do not understand the majors at the vocational level, making it difficult for students to enter majors according to the talents and interests of each student. This research is a continuation of previous research that has developed web-based applications. With a majors specialization system using the Inventory Personal Survey Test model system which was built as a majors selection system at the SMK level, mobile access is needed to make it easier for students to access this service via an application on a smartphone.This system is designed using Android Studio and the database creation using MYSQL. The results of the specialization that has been carried out show that the system can be used to conduct online counseling and makes it easier for counselors to collect and analyze counseling results.

Integrability of a Comprehensive Telerehabilitation Approach for Post-Stroke Patients and Therapists: A Feasibility Study

Telerehabilitation can be a valuable addition to conventional rehabilitation after a stroke. The aim of the presented study was to assess the feasibility and integrability of a newly developed platform and service model to offer telerehabilitation in different settings in an initial field trial. The field trial was conducted in two clinics and a freelance therapy setting in Austria and Slovenia. Data were gathered using questionnaires for patients, therapists, and, if applicable, relatives. The data were analyzed using descriptive methods. Three patients were treated by seven therapists (occupational, physio, speech). During the test, the patients completed more than 25 exercises per week on average. The usability of the system, in general, was high, with slightly better results for the patients. Overall, the patients stated that telerehabilitation is a good addition to conventional therapy, although the quality of online therapy is not as high as face-to-face therapy. The therapists reported that the system was easy to use but had some obstacles in exercise preparation. The integrability in daily life was good, according to the patients. For the therapists, integrability was average, as the test showed some obstacles in the provision of services beyond the clinical setting. Further studies are required to elaborate on the quality of teletherapeutic interventions in the proposed flexible service model.

Evidence-Based Medical Management and Physiotherapy Rehabilitation in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: A Narrative Review.

Children between the ages of one and 18 are at a heightened risk of death and impairment due to traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI can be deadly and is usually categorized as mild, moderate, or severe according to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). For individuals with a TBI and an abnormal GCS, the preferred modality is non-contrast CT of the head. This review focuses on the medical treatment and rehabilitation of children with TBI and their outcomes. This was searched in databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and EMBASE. The literature search criteria included "traumatic brain injury AND physiotherapy rehabilitation OR medical treatment," with additional filters applied, including full text, both male and female, ages below 18 years, and publications from 2012 to 2024. This study conducted research on the treatment and rehabilitation of children with TBI. Ten randomized clinical trials, non-randomized trials, and longitudinal cohort study randomized trials met the inclusion criteria, which include hyperbaric oxygen therapy, melatonin, nabiximols, psycho-educational intervention, online therapy, the virtual reality rehabilitation program, and conventional occupational therapy. The results show significant improvement in forearm supination, performance in daily living, quality of life, reduced anger, improved school functioning, improvement in TBI conditions, reduced hospital stay, activity facilitating recovery, and reduced prolonged symptoms. This review has addressed the effectiveness of various medical management and rehabilitation strategies, which are important in TBI and aim to mitigate post-traumatic/concussion impact and improve quality of life. Articles regarding children's TBI rehabilitation are comparatively few. One possible solution to this issue would be to encourage further rehabilitation intervention trials.

Issues and Challenges of Online Counseling Services During Covid-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically impacted the quality of counseling services. During the pandemic, e-counseling emerged as a vital and transformative approach to mental health support. With social distancing measures and lockdowns restricting in-person interactions, traditional counseling services faced significant challenges in maintaining accessibility and continuity of care. A significant effect can be seen in counselors' online counseling services through technology. The study aims to investigate the issues and challenges that arise in online counseling services and identify the advantages and disadvantages of these services. A quantitative approach was carried out when a questionnaire was sent to 100 registered counselors across the country, asking two (2) main questions, namely the experience of issues and challenges they experienced in conducting online counseling sessions and their opinions on the advantages and disadvantages of online counseling. These answers are collected and then analyzed with the support of previous studies. The study findings found that confidentiality issues and managing disabled clients are among the main challenges.

Online Counseling Encourages Openness to Help Individuals Dealing with Psychological Disorders

Online counseling can be used to help individuals maintain their mental health. There is a need to test the feasibility and effectiveness of online counseling in treating individuals who experience psychological disorders. The research was carried out through one of the pre-experimental design models, i.e one group pretest-posttest. Participants were twelve individuals consisting of students and communities who were experiencing psychological distress in severe and chronic status who were willing to participate in online counseling programs. Online counseling is administrated through a synchronous and asynchronous format. Feasibility is statistically established based on data on the client’s comfort to express himself and his involvement in the counseling process. The technique used is a percentile with a percentile of 75 (P75) as a minimal condition. Data on convenience is measured quantitatively through scale and engagement data is measured quantitatively based on counseling documents. The effectiveness of counseling is statistically established on the basis of whether or not there is a significant decrease in the status of the client's psychological disorder. The statistical technique used is the t test for correlated samples. Psychological disorders are defined as stress, anxiety, and depression which is being experienced by the client and measured through DASS-21 (depression, anxiety, stress scale version 21 items) in Indonesian version. The study produced two main findings as follows.: (1) online counseling can strongly encourage self-exploration and client engagement; and (2) online counseling is significantly effective in lowering the status of the client's psychological disorders, although the rate of decline in this status is varied between clients.

Online Contraception Counseling for Primiparous Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of contraception counseling on contraceptive method use in the postpartum period in primiparous women. Data were collected using a questionnaire form prepared by the researchers. The randomized controlled trial was conducted with 70 primiparous women. The intervention group received individualized online contraceptive counseling at 2, 4, and 6 months postpartum. The control group did not receive any intervention. After the sixth month is completed, contraceptive method use was evaluated in both intervention and control groups. While there was no unintended pregnancy in the intervention group, unintended pregnancies occurred in the control group (p<0.05). After counseling, the rate of modern method use in the intervention group was statistically significantly higher than in the control group (p<0.05). In regions where access to counseling services is limited due to economic, geographical, or cultural constraints, online counseling has the potential to increase contraceptive use, prevent unintended and closely spaced pregnancies, and support continued breastfeeding.