My Position on Technology as a Way to Counsel My view on technology in providing counseling services will most likely change as generations of technology advance, however for now, I do not support the use of technology as a way to provide counseling services. I am a firm believer in face-to-face interactions in counseling. Face to face interactions allows the counselor and the client to build a stronger therapeutic relationship, ultimately experiencing enhanced therapeutic counseling. I often wonder if individuals use technology for counseling services for the fact it is convenient, conversely how therapeutic can online counseling be?
The Use of Videoconferencing
Technology has become an integrated part of individual’s lives within the last century. The mental health profession has increased its use of technology through the use of videoconferencing. The name given to this new generation of counseling is etherapy (Midkiff & Wyatt, 2008). Although, individuals enjoy etherapy for its convenience and increased access there are ethical challenges and
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There are potential breeches to confidentiality, since the use of the Internet is not secure or private (Remley & Herlihy, 2014). Clients must acknowledge the potential challenges of confidentiality through the use of technology. Counselors must take the appropriate actions to ensure confidentiality (Bradley & Hendricks, 2009). The client and the counselor can work together by using encryption technology and securing their computers for protection (Midkiff & Wyatt, 2008). One ethical challenge that arises when using technology in counseling services is not being able to protect clients from unqualified cyber counselors. Deceptive counselors may be misleading and unable to give appropriate advice. Clients need to be cautious when using online counseling and ensure proper credentials (Remley & Herlihy,
Shore, J. H., Brooks, E., Savin, D. M., Manson, S. M., & Libby, A. M. (2007, June). An economic evaluation of telehealth data collection with rural populations. Psychiatic Services, 58(6), 830-835.
Prinz, L., Cramer, M. & Englund, A. (2008). Telehealth: A policy analysis for quality, impact on
It is widely recognized that mental illness affects a significant proportion of the population; however, it is complicated to determine exact numbers. This problem can be attributed to such issues as the changing definitions of mental illness as well as difficulties in classifying, diagnosing, and reporting mental disorders. Limitations to adequate mental health services including social stigma, cultural incompatibility between patients and providers, language barriers, lack of insurance and logistical barriers. In addition, significant differences in socioeconomic status, lifestyle behaviors, and access to care have resulted in health disparities between rural and urban communities (Institute of Medicine, 2004). According to Sulzbacher et al., many families who live in rural areas do not have the financial, social or psychological resources, to travel to distant urban centers to obtain adequate care particularly for a chronic mental health problem. There is also evidence to suggest that mental illness in rural areas is as nearly as high as among people in metropolitan areas. However, the accessibility of mental health services and professionals in rural areas is extremely low compared to major cities and metropolitan areas. Such barriers can impede the diagnosing, treating and reporting of mental illnesses and have also been instrumental in developing and improving telepsychiatry and e-mental health models.
(*note to reader:I hope this gives all of you struggling with some concepts in Intro to Philosophy a clearer view on how to approach your own paper, please do not plagerise)
Understanding the counseling session from the client’s perspective is a very important aspect in the development of a therapeutic relationship. A clinician must be an excellent listener, while being to pay attention to the client’s body language, affect and tone. The dynamics in the counseling session that is beneficial to the client include the recognition of the pain that the client is feeling. The detrimental part of this includes a misunderstanding of the real issues, a lack of consideration of the cultural aspects of the client, and a lack of clinical experience or listening skills. In this presentation, we will discuss the positive and negative aspects of the counseling session from the client’s perspective which includes the client’s attitudes, feelings, and emotions of the counseling session. We will next examine the propensity of the client to reveal or not reveal information to the counselor, and how transference, and counter-transference can have an effect on the counselor-client relationship.
...ing online counseling also tends to break down some of the barriers that typically prevent potential clients from showing up at the office do. Online counseling also allows for more flexibility, both for the counselor and the client. The same holds true for online supervision.technology gives those clients the ability to access services in nontraditional ways and in ways that work for their schedule. The advent of social media allows counselors to become their own advertising specialists instead of hiring one” (Shallcross, 2011).
However, there are benefits to both clients and social workers than can make the risk worthwhile. The use of technology can allow social workers to provide services to clients who would otherwise be impeded by geographical, socioeconomic, or physical barriers. Electronic services can often be provided at a lower cost to bother worker and client, and can allow the social worker greater flexibility in scheduling and time management (Standards for Technology in Social Work Practice, 2017). The use of electronic methods for continuing education, research, and discussion among peers is also beneficial to those in the social work
Mishna, F., Bogo, M., Root, J., Sawyer, J., & Khoury-kassabri, M. (2012). "It just crept in": The digital age and implications for social work practice. Clinical Social Work Journal, 40(3), 277-286. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10615-012-0383-4
Today telepsychiatry is the most popular applications for telemedicine through videoconferencing (Cash, 2011). It is the providing of health care and the exchange of information to provide psychiatric services across distances through any form of electronic media (Wootton, Yellowlees, & McLaren, 2003). Mental health services via videoconfere...
Technology has changed the existing cultural climate of social work practice and advocacy. Much of the manner in which technology has challenged social interactions is a direct result of the use of information technology for communication in innovative patterns and exchanges (Baker, Warburton, Hodgkin, & Pascal, 2014). Social work practitioners are developing their skillsets to embrace societal evolvement as a matter of adaptability. The power of technology brings about collective practice, increased awareness, promotes social justice, and elicits the changes intended by social work advocacy (Bent-Goodley, 2015). Although there is resistance in embracing technology, much of the strengths are in current and future technological
Lee, P. L. V. C. T. (2011). Internet Communication Versus Face-to-face Interaction in Quality of Life. Social Indicators Research, 100(3), 375-389. doi: 10.1007/s11205-010-9618-3 Retrieved December 3, 2013 from EBSCOdatabase http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=heh&AN=56788265&site=eds-live},
Professional ethical conduct is essential to the success of any client, whether it is in individual counseling or in a group setting. Professional psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers or others in the field of human service or help have the duly responsibility to continuously become aware of their professional responsibilities, and manage their practice based on areas of ability. This paper will research ethics within groups and individual counseling, and compare their similarities and their differences.
In the early years of computers and computerized technology, computer engineers had to believe that their contribution to the development of computer technology would produce positive impacts on the people that would use it. During the infancy of computer technology, ethical issues concerning computer technology were almost nonexistent because computers back then were not as multifaceted as they are today. However, ethical issues relating to computer technology and cyber technology is undeniable in today’s society. Computer technology plays a crucial role in all aspects of our daily lives. Different forms of computer technology provide unique functionalities that allow people to perform daily activities effectively and efficiently. In modern society, we use computer and cyber technology to communicate with friends and family via social networking sites, participate in business transactions, and get current news. Different tasks require unique technological feature in computer technology to function properly. Although, unique technological features increase people’s proficiency in accomplishing various tasks, unique technological features in computer and cyber technology increase security vulnerabilities. In many cases, the security vulnerabilities in computer technology are exploited by cybercriminals to invade people’s privacy, and steal people’s identity. We know that computers have no moral compass; they cannot make moral decisions for themselves. Essentially, people make moral decisions that affect others positively or negatively depending on how they use computer technology. Some of the biggest ethical issues facing people in the computing environment include privacy concerns on the web and identity theft. Privacy concerns...
Technology is truly taking a turn for the worst on mental health. Technology is the future, it’s supposed to be the greatest thing to ever happen. Although technology may be helping the world out, it is hurting the people who use it. Technology is taking over lives and damaging mental health, it is the main cause of mental health issues and it needs to be taken seriously. Technology is not beneficial for mental health because it is causing isolation, depression, and mental illness in children.
According to Turkle (2012), “We use technology to define ourselves by sharing our thoughts and feelings as we’re having them.” (Page 3). That’s an example of an over exaggeration. People are smart enough to know that expressing thoughts and feeling on the internet will not do you any good. People are willing to talk to someone when they’re going through something. They want to have face-to-face conversations to properly express their feelings and thoughts so that they can receive an immediate reaction. We don’t let technology define