Online Counseling through the Eyes of University Students


DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14689/enad.36.1694Keywords:
university students, online counseling, counseling services, mental health services, distance counselingAbstract
This study examined university students' knowledge levels, experiences, opinions, preferences, and suggestions for improving online psychological counseling services with a phenomenological qualitative research design. The data were collected in two stages using the Online Counseling Interview Form (OCIF) developed by the researchers. In the pre-COVID-19 period, researchers interviewed ten university students, and during COVID-19, they reached out to 11 more students. Descriptive analysis showed that students' knowledge levels and experiences increased, and most students were eager to use online counseling services. Moreover, students provided worth-stressing information about their preferences and suggestions regarding the announcement, design, and implementation of online counseling to improve online counseling services in universities.
References
Abbott, J. A. M., Klein, B., & Ciechomski, L. (2008). Best practices in online therapy. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 26(2-4), 360–375. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228830802097257
Aboujaoude, E., Salame, W., & Naim, L. (2015). Telemental health: A status update. World Psychiatry, 14(2), 223–230. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20218
ACA (American Counseling Association). (2014). ACA Code of Ethics. https://www.counseling.org/resources/aca-code-of-ethics.pdf
Ahmed, M. Z., Ahmed, O., Aibao, Z., Hanbin, S., Siyu, L., & Ahmad, A. (2020). Epidemic of COVID-19 in China and associated Psychological Problems. Asian Journal of Psychiatry, 51, Article 102092. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2020.102092
APA (American Psychiatric Association). (2020). Psychiatrists use of telepsychiatry during COVID-19 public health emergency https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/telepsychiatry
Amos, P. M., Bedu-Addo, P. K. A., & Antwi, T. (2020). Experiences of online counseling among undergraduates in some Ghanaian universities. SAGE Open, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020941844
Andersson G. (2016). Internet-delivered psychological treatments. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 12, 157–179. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-021815-093006
Andersson, G., Cuijpers, P., Carlbring, P., Riper, H., & Hedman, E. (2014). Guided Internet-based vs. face-to-face cognitive behavior therapy for psychiatric and somatic disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World Psychiatry: Official Journal of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), 13(3), 288–295. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20151
Andrews, G., Basu, A., Cuijpers, P., Craske, M. G., McEvoy, P., English, C. L., & Newby, J. M. (2018). Computer therapy for the anxiety and depression disorders is effective, acceptable and practical health care: An updated meta-analysis. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 55, 70–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.01.001
Armoiry, X., Sturt, J., Phelps, E. E., Walker, C. L., Court, R., Taggart, F., Sutcliffe, P., Griffiths, F., & Atherton, H. (2018). Digital clinical communication for families and caregivers of children or young people with short- or long-term conditions: Rapid review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 20(1), Article e5. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.7999
Barak, A., Hen, L., Boniel-Nissim, M., & Shapira, N. A. (2008). A comprehensive review and a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of internet-based psychotherapeutic interventions. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 26(2-4), 109–160. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228830802094429
Barker, G. G., & Barker, E. E. (2022). Online therapy: Lessons learned from the COVID-19 health crisis. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 50(1), 66–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2021.1889462
Barnett, M. L., Sigal, M., Green Rosas, C. R. Y. F. M., & Jent, J. F. (2021). Therapist experiences and attitudes about implementing internet-delivered parent-child interaction therapy during COVID-19. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 28(4), 630–641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2021.03.005
Benton, S. A., Heesacker, M., Snowden, S. J., & Lee, G. (2016). Therapist-assisted, online (TAO) intervention for anxiety in college students: TAO outperformed treatment as usual. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 47(5), 363–371. https://doi.org/10.1037/pro0000097
Berryhill, M. B., Culmer, N., Williams, N., Halli-Tierney, A., Betancourt, A., Roberts, H., & King, M. (2019). Videoconferencing psychotherapy and depression: A systematic review. Telemedicine Journal and E-Health: The Official Journal of the American Telemedicine Association, 25(6), 435–446. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2018.0058
Bor, W., Dean, A. J., Najman, J., & Hayatbakhsh, R. (2014). Are child and adolescent mental health problems increasing in the 21st century? A systematic review. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 48(7), 606–616. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867414533834
Buchholz, K. (September 25, 2020). In 2021, Global Emoji Count Will Grow to 3,353 [Digital image]. https://www.statista.com/chart/17275/number-of-emojis-from-1995-bis-2019/
Buyruk Genç, A., Amanvermez, Y., Zeren, S. G., & Erus, S. M. (2019). Early separations: Dropout from online and face-to-face counseling. Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction, 9(4), 1001-1030. https://doi.org/10.14527/pegegog.2019.032
Callahan, A., & Inckle, K. (2012). Cybertherapy or psychobabble? A mixed methods study of online emotional support. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 40(3), 261–278. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2012.681768
Caspar, F., & Berger, T. (2005). The future is bright: How can we optimize online counseling, and how can we know whether we have done so? The Counseling Psychologist, 33(6), 900–909. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000005280183
CCMH (Center for Collegiate Mental Health). (2021). 2020 Annual Report (Publication No. STA 21-045). https://ccmh.psu.edu/assets/docs/2020%20CCMH%20Annual%20Report.pdf
Centore, A. J., & Milacci, F. (2008). A study of mental health counselors' use of and perspectives on distance counseling. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 30(3), 267–282. https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.30.3.q871r684n863u75r
Childress C. A. (2000). Ethical issues in providing online psychotherapeutic interventions. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 2(1), Article E5. https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.2.1.e5
Conti, C., Lanzara, R., Rosa, I., Müller, M., Stein, B., Porcelli, P., & Waller, C. (2022). Anxiety and depressive symptoms among hospital staff during the COVID-19 pandemic: Longitudinal results from the international COPE-CORONA study. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 157, Article 110874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2022.110874
Cui Li-xia, Liu Ya-nan, Lei Li, & Tan Sheng. (2010). Relationship variables in online versus face-to-face counseling. 2010 IEEE 2nd Symposium on Web Society, Web Society (SWS), 2010 IEEE 2nd Symposium On, 77–82. https://doi.org/10.1109/SWS.2010.5607476
Day, V., McGrath, P. J., & Wojtowicz, M. (2013). Internet-based guided self-help for university students with anxiety, depression, and stress: A randomized controlled clinical trial. Behavior Research and Therapy, 51(7), 344–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2013.03.003
Drago, A., Winding, T. N., & Antypa, N. (2016). Videoconferencing in psychiatry, a meta-analysis of assessment and treatment. European Psychiatry: The Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 36, 29–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.03.007
Dunn, K. (2012). A qualitative investigation into the online counseling relationship: To meet or not to meet, that is the question. Counseling and Psychotherapy Research, 12(4), 316–326. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733145.2012.669772
Eisenberg, D., Gollust, S. E., Golberstein, E., & Hefner, J. L. (2007). Prevalence and correlates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality among university students. The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 77(4), 534–542. https://doi.org/10.1037/0002-9432.77.4.534
Evans, V. (2017). The emoji code. Picador.
Fang, L., Tarshis, S., McInroy, L., & Mishna, F. (2018). Undergraduate student experiences with text-based online counseling. British Journal of Social Work, 48(6), 1774–1790. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcx111
Haberstroh, S. (2010). College counselors' use of informal language online: Student perceptions of expertness, trustworthiness, and attractiveness. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 13(4), 455–459. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2009.0280
Hanley, T., & Wyatt, C. (2020). A systematic review of higher education students’ experiences of engaging with online therapy. Counselling & Psychotherapy Research, 21(3), 522–534. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12371
Jones, S., Johnson-Yale, C., Seoane Pérez, F., & Schuler, J. (2007). The Internet landscape in college. Teachers College Record, 109(14), 39–86. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7984.2007.00114.x
Jones, W. P. (2003). Testing and counseling: A marriage saved by the internet. In Bloom, J. W., & Walz, G. R. (Eds.), Cybercounseling & Cyberlearning: An Encore. (pp. 183–202). ERIC.
Kempler, T. M., & Kelly, K. L. (2007). Cognitive processing of self-report items in educational research: Do they think what we mean? Educational Psychologist, 42(2), 139–151. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520701416231
Kralj Novak, P., Smailović, J., Sluban, B., & Mozetič, I. (2015). Sentiment of emojis. PloS One, 10(12). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0144296
Kuester, A., Niemeyer, H., & Knaevelsrud, C. (2016). Internet-based interventions for posttraumatic stress: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clinical Psychology Review, 43, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2015.11.004
Kupczynski, L., Garza, K., & Mundy, M.-A. (2017). Counselors’ perceptions of online and face-to-face counseling. Online Journal of Counseling & Education, 6(1), 1–17.
LeCompte, M. D., & Goetz, J. P. (1982). Problems of reliability and validity in ethnographic research. Review of Educational Research, 52(1), 31–60. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543052001031
Lewis, J., Coursol, D., & Herting, W. (2003). Researching the cybercounseling process: A study of the client and counselor experience. In J. W. Bloom & G. R. Walz (Eds.), Cybercounseling & cyberlearning: An encore (pp. 307–325).
Liu, J., & Gao, L. (2021). Analysis of topics and characteristics of user reviews on different online psychological counseling methods. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 147, Article 104367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2020.104367
Mallen, M. J., & Vogel, D. L. (2005). Introduction to the major contribution: Counseling psychology and online counseling. The Counseling Psychologist, 33(6), 761–775. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000005278623
Mallen, M. J., Day, S. X., & Green, M. A. (2003). Online versus face-to-face conversation: An examination of relational and discourse variables. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 40(1-2), 155–163. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.40.1-2.155
Mallen, M. J., Vogel, D. L., & Rochlen, A. B. (2005). The practical aspects of online counseling: Ethics, training, technology, and competency. The Counseling Psychologist, 33(6), 776–818. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000005278625
Manhal-Baugus, M. (2001). E-therapy: Practical, ethical, and legal issues Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 4(5), 551–563. https://doi.org/10.1089/109493101753235142
McLean, C. P., Miller, M. L., Gengler, R., Henderson, J., & Sloan, D. M. (2020). The efficacy of written exposure therapy versus imaginal exposure delivered online for posttraumatic stress disorder: Design of a randomized controlled trial in Veterans. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 91, 105990. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2020.105990
McVeigh, M., & Heward-Belle, S. (2020). Necessary and good: A literature review exploring ethical issues for online counselling with children and young people who have experienced maltreatment. Children Australia, 45(4), 266–278. https://doi.org/10.1017/cha.2020.59
Mehrabian, A. (1971). Silent messages. Wadsworth.
Patterson, M. L. (1983). Nonverbal behavior: A functional perspective. Springer
Richter, D., Wall, A., Bruen, A., & Whittington, R. (2019). Is the global prevalence rate of adult mental illness increasing? Systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 140(5), 393–407. https://doi.org/10.1111/acps.13083
Pollock, S. L. (2006). Internet counseling and its feasibility for marriage and family counseling. The Family Journal, 14(1), 65–70. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480705282057
Rochlen, A. B., Beretvas, S. N., & Zack, J. S. (2004a). The online and face-to-face counseling attitudes scales: A validation study. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 37(2), 95–111. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2004.11909753
Rochlen, A. B., Zack, J. S., & Speyer, C. (2004b). Online therapy: A review of relevant definitions, debates, and current empirical support. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 60(3), 269–283. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.10263
Rodrigues, D., Prada, M., Gaspar, R., Garrido, M. V., & Lopes, D. (2018). Lisbon emoji and emoticon database (LEED): Norms for emoji and emoticons in seven evaluative dimensions. Behavior Research Methods, 50(1), 392–405. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13428-017-0878-6
Skinner, A., & Zack, J. S. (2004). Counseling and the Internet. American Behavioral Scientist, 48(4), 434–446. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002764204270280
So, M., Yamaguchi, S., Hashimoto, S., Sado, M., Furukawa, T. A., & McCrone, P. (2013). Is computerized CBT really helpful for adult depression? A meta-analytic re-evaluation of CCBT for adult depression in terms of clinical implementation and methodological validity. BMC Psychiatry, 13(113). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-244X-13-113
Stoll, J., Müller, J. A., & Trachsel, M. (2020). Ethical issues in online psychotherapy: A narrative review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, Article 993. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00993
Ström, L., Pettersson, R., & Andersson, G. (2000). A controlled trial of self-help treatment of recurrent headache conducted via the Internet. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 68(4), 722–727. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.68.4.722
Sussman, R. (2004). Counseling over the Internet: Benefits and challenges in the use of new technologies. ERIC Number: ED478216
Takahashi, K., Oishi, T., & Shimada, M. (2017). Is☺ smiling? Cross-cultural study on recognition of emoticon’s emotion. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 48(10), 1578-1586. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022022117734372
Thomas, A. O., Lee, G., & Ess, B. (2015). Design and implementation of therapist online counseling. Online Learning, 19(4). https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v19i4.547
Van Dam, L., Rietstra, S., Van der Drift, E., Stams, G. J. J., Van der Mei, R., Mahfoud, M., ... & Reid, T. G. (2019). Can an emoji a day keep the doctor away? An explorative mixed-methods feasibility study to develop a self-help app for youth with mental health problems. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, Article 593. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00593
Vogel, D. L., Wester, S. R., Wei, M., & Boysen, G. A. (2005). The role of outcome expectations and attitudes on decisions to seek professional help. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(4), 459–470. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.52.4.459
Vongtangswad, S., Tuicomepee, A., & Sirikantraporn, S. (2017). Client perspectives on single session chat-based individual online counseling among undergraduates. Journal of Health Research, 31(4), 271-279. https://doi.org/ 10.14456/jhr.2017.34
Wagner, B., Horn, A. B., & Maercker, A. (2014). Internet-based versus face-to-face cognitive-behavioral intervention for depression: A randomized controlled non-inferiority trial. Journal of Affective Disorders, 152–154, 113–121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2013.06.032
Walsh, A., & Richards, D. (2017). Experiences and engagement with the design features and strategies of an internet-delivered treatment programme for generalized anxiety disorder: A service-based evaluation. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 45(1), 16–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2016.1153039
Wang, C., Pan, R., Wan, X., Tan, Y., Xu, L., Ho, C. S., & Ho, R. C. (2020). Immediate psychological responses and associated factors during the initial stage of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic among the general population in China. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(5), Article 1729. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17051729
Weinstein, R. S., Lopez, A. M., Joseph, B. A., Erps, K. A., Holcomb, M., Barker, G. P., & Krupinski, E. A. (2014). Telemedicine, telehealth, and mobile health applications that work: Opportunities and barriers. The American Journal of Medicine, 127(3), 183–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.09.032
Wentzel, J., Van der Vaart, R., Bohlmeijer, E. T., & van Gemert-Pijnen, J. E. (2016). Mixing online and face-to-face therapy: How to benefit from blended care in mental health care. JMIR Mental Health, 3(1), Article e9. https://doi.org/10.2196/mental.4534
Wettstein, M., Nowossadeck, S., & Vogel, C. (2022). Well-being trajectories of middle-aged and older adults and the corona pandemic: No "COVID-19 effect" on life satisfaction, but increase in depressive symptoms. Psychology and Aging, 37(2), 175–189. https://doi.org/10.1037/pag0000664
WHO (World Health Organization). (2020, March 11) Virtual press conference on COVID-19 https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/transcripts/who-audio-emergencies-coronavirus-press-conference-full-and-final-11mar2020.pdf
Yildirim, A., & Simsek, H. (2011). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yontemleri (8th ed.). Seckin Yayincilik.
Young, K. S. (2005). An empirical examination of client attitudes towards online counseling. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 8(2), 172–177. https://doi.org/10.1089/cpb.2005.8.172
Zeren, S. G., Erus, S. M., Amanvermez, Y., Buyruk Genc, A., Yilmaz, M. B., & Duy, B. (2020). The effectiveness of online counseling for university students in Turkey: A non-randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Educational Research, 9(2), 825-834. https://doi.org/10.12973/eu-jer.9.2.825
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Journal of Qualitative Research in Education

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.