Using text-based synchronous chat to offer therapeutic support to students: A systematic review of the research literature

Abstract

Objective: Counselling within educational settings has now become commonplace. As with the advent of the use of new technologies in teaching, such developments are also impacting the broader support structures available to students. One development is the move of schools to offer pupils access to online counselling services. To date, such practices have received little attention, and this paper synthesises the existing empirical research literature in this area. Design: A systematic review of the literature was conducted which focused upon synchronous chat counselling for 11- to 25-year-olds. Method: Key bibliographic databases were searched for relevant papers. These were assessed for relevance and quality prior to being included into the analysis. The final selection of studies was analysed for key themes. Results: In all, 19 papers met the inclusion criteria. The thematic synthesis identified four higher order themes: (1) developing safe and youth-friendly online services, (2) online client characteristics, (3) in-session online processes and (4) session alliance and outcome. Conclusion: These themes outline the varied challenges and opportunities present within this developing practice. Each is initially discussed alongside existing literature related to online counselling before the implications for educational providers are explicitly considered. Ultimately, it is concluded that online counselling for students has much potential, however, those commissioning such services need to be mindful of common pitfalls.

Experiences of Online Counseling Among Undergraduates in Some Ghanaian Universities

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A systematic review of higher education students' experiences of engaging with online therapy

“…It assists in meeting a demand for psychological support that traditional face‐to‐face therapeutic resources are not always able to meet (Stallman, 2011). For instance, online services can support younger individuals in accessing services that they may not ordinarily approach (Ersahin & Hanley, 2017). Online provision of therapeutic support is recognised and referenced in the literature by various terms including online therapy, e‐therapy, e‐counselling, computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) and electronic cognitive behavioural therapy (eCBT) (Ostrowski & Collins, 2016).…”

Why do young people use online forums for mental health and emotional support? Benefits and challenges

“…It may also encourage people to seek help earlier (Rickwood et al, 2005). Ersahin and Hanley (2017), in a recent systematic review, conclude that there is an emerging body of research that demonstrates the potential of online support services, such as counselling and text-based forums for young people. However, despite this potential, they also highlight that the research base remains limited and that further work is still needed to understand online practices.…”