Students’ psychological web consulting: function and outcome evaluation

Abstract

This paper refers to a brief interaction with a mental health professional via written electronic communication. Web consulting services have proved popular, but there is controversy regarding the efficacy of such brief interventions to address problems and enable service users to access other forms of counselling. University students are accustomed to new technologies and often present difficulties suitable for simple intervention. Additionally, interventions of this type lead to the creation of a 'database' of students' issues that can be used by future service users, alleviating the heavy workload of most services. Data from prior investigations are presented and ways to further investigate, validate and evaluate the function and outcome of web consulting in the context of students' psychological counselling are discussed.

Satisfaction with therapist-delivered vs. self-administered online cognitive behavioural treatments for depression symptoms in college students

“…This is perhaps related to a perceived benefit of the form, 'not having to talk face-to-face', that it allowed a level of distance and perceived anonymity that was seen as important. Anonymity and distance have been noted as benefits in online delivery (Efstathiou, 2009;Richards, 2009). It seemed pertinent for the eCBT group to be able to communicate with a professional and receive feedback while at the same time being at some distance and therefore providing some level of perceived anonymity.…”

Client-identified helpful and hindering events in therapist-delivered vs. self-administered online cognitive-behavioural treatments for depression in college students

“…Indeed, the reader will know that the main research trial (Richards et al, in review) reported that the outcomes for both groups were equal at post-treatment and no significant differences were shown between the groups which suggests that there existed two routes to treatment success, one (cCBT) solely through non-relational CBT techniques and strategies and one (eCBT) that also benefited from a relational element (Richards et al, in review). Therefore, it would be interesting to investigate further whether a therapist-delivered non-CBT intervention based on exchanges of free text, such as those described by Richards (2009) andEfstathiou (2009), would equal outcomes from a self-administered cCBT program.…”

Developments in Technology-Delivered Psychological Interventions

“…Online counseling has been provided as a standalone service and as an adjunct to other services (Efstathiou, 2009;Richards, 2009). Indeed, some computer-based self-administered treatments for a variety of disorders have included online counseling support, usually in the form of asynchronous post-sessions feedback, which appears to increase adherence and yield enhanced outcomes (Newman et al, 2011;Richards & Richardson, 2012).…”

“…: Barak & Bloch, 2006;Barak, Hen, Boniel-Nissim & Shapira, 2008;Cook & Doyle, 2002;Day & Schneider, 2002;Efstathiou, 2009;Hanley, 2009;Knaevelsrud & Maercker, 2006;Leibert, Archer, Munson & York, 2006;Richards, 2009). …”

“…The Internet has also been used for counseling online (Efstathiou, 2009;Goss & Anthony, 2003;Richards, 2009). Different technologies have been employed including custom software packages, mobile phones, virtual reality and multimedia.…”