Providers and consumers of mental health services are increasingly making use of the internet to gather information, consult, and participate in psychotherapy. This Handbook gives practical insight into how professionals can translate their practice to an online medium. Divided into four sections, section one provides an overview of how the internet has become an integral part of people's lives, and the research to date on the use and effectiveness of counseling online, as well as idiosyncrasies of online behavior and communication. Section two discusses the "practical" aspects of counseling online, including technological issues, ethical and legal issues, and business issues. Section three focuses on performing psychotherapy online, including online treatment strategies and skills, working with online groups, online testing and assessment, and international and multicultural issues in online counseling. The last section discusses the future of online counseling. The Handbook is intended for those professionals interested in the burgeoning telehealth movement and to those practicing therapists looking for ways to expand their practices online and/or to help round out treatment to specific patients who might benefit from online therapy in addition to traditional delivery.

′A very practical text that provides professionals new to this arena with a good introduction to what they can expect to encounter in online work. The book contains numerous thought-provoking examples and exercises for those contemplating work in virtual arenas′ - Terry Hanley, Lecturer in Counselling, University of Manchester `It′s tempting to think that face-to-face experience translates straightforwardly to online work. But it doesn′t. Jane Evans shows how many different aspects there are to counselling on-line... My advice would be, don′t attempt it until you have worked through this book′ - Professor Michael Jacobs, author of Psychodynamic Counselling in Action Counsellors - and other professionals who provide emotional support and guidance - are increasingly working online. The difference between online and face-to-face interaction with clients is vast and practitioners need to equip themselves with specialist knowledge and skills to ensure that they are being effective. Online Counselling and Guidance Skills is the first book to deal with the practicalities of this mode of working. It looks at how practitioners need to adapt their basic counselling skills to the online environment and guides them through the process of setting up, defining and maintaining a working relationship with a client within professional, ethical and legal boundaries. Case studies and extracts from online sessions show how the skills are put into practice, while practical exercises and points for further consideration help readers to develop their own knowledge and skills. Until now, books and articles have generally focused on the therapeutic work done by counsellors online. However, this book addresses people who use counselling skills in a wide range of contexts; including counselling, education, mental health, social care and careers guidance.

Therapy via the internet is a developing field for counsellors. This accessible guide focuses on technological and therapeutic aspects of online work, relevant across all counselling approaches. With practical step-by-step exercises and jargon-free advice, this is an indispensable tool for all practitioners and trainees planning to work online.

"An enjoyable book that helps to bring counselling into the 21st century. Kate and DeeAnna have played a significant role in the development of online therapy and their enthusiasm for the subject matter, and experience as trainers and practitioners, comes through in this informative text." Terry Hanley, Director of MA in Counselling, University of Manchester The plethora of online services now available has led to a growing demand for practitioners to look beyond traditional face-to-face therapy and take advantage of the flexibility which email and the Internet can offer them and their clients. This guide gives up-to-the minute information and research, ethical and legal advice, on the practicalities of setting up or joining a service, and the essential therapeutic skills needed to be an effective online therapist. Writing for an international audience, the authors discuss the issues for practitioners using the Internet today, as well as in the future. Basing their study on published empirical research, they address: - text-based therapeutic interventions such as email, Internet Relay Chat and forums, from the perspective of different theoretical orientations, illustrated with a full length case study - new Ethical Framework for using Technology in Mental Health - online supervision, online research; group therapy online - the "business" of setting up in private practice or e-clinics - other therapeutic uses of technology including use of video therapy, mobile SMS, telephone therapy, Virtual Reality environments, gaming and computerised CBT. The authoritative guide to all aspects of being an online therapist, this practical text is a vital addition to any therapist′s library. It will also be valuable reading for anyone training to be a counsellor or psychotherapist in our increasingly ′electronic′ world.

Given the migration to more technologically driven services and resources in today’s world, as well as the range of digital innovations and research that have taken shape throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to consider the role that such advancements have played in supporting mental health initiatives. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health service providers utilized technology and online environments more than ever before to care for people’s mental health and emotional needs, which has forced us to raise questions like how COVID-19 has impacted mental health support and services and how technology has helped people with their mental health through this ongoing crisis, along with outlooks for the future. Digital Innovations for Mental Health Support explores a range of current developments and topics surrounding the application of technology in mental health services including the need to examine the availability and forms of technologies to support mental health, how technology is received by people and the providers of services utilizing technology, how online platforms are increasingly being used for support and how efficacious these are, as well as how they are monitored and the issues that arise from their use. This publication provides an outlet with chapters focusing on empirical studies across a variety disciplines that utilize technologies and online platforms to support mental health and emotional well-being, including psychology, counseling, medicine, education, and psychiatry. Covering topics such as counseling online and computer games to support mental health, it is ideal for researchers, academics, healthcare professionals, and students.

′A very practical text that provides professionals new to this arena with a good introduction to what they can expect to encounter in online work. The book contains numerous thought-provoking examples and exercises for those contemplating work in virtual arenas′ - Terry Hanley, Lecturer in Counselling, University of Manchester `It′s tempting to think that face-to-face experience translates straightforwardly to online work. But it doesn′t. Jane Evans shows how many different aspects there are to counselling on-line... My advice would be, don′t attempt it until you have worked through this book′ - Professor Michael Jacobs, author of Psychodynamic Counselling in Action Counsellors - and other professionals who provide emotional support and guidance - are increasingly working online. The difference between online and face-to-face interaction with clients is vast and practitioners need to equip themselves with specialist knowledge and skills to ensure that they are being effective. Online Counselling and Guidance Skills is the first book to deal with the practicalities of this mode of working. It looks at how practitioners need to adapt their basic counselling skills to the online environment and guides them through the process of setting up, defining and maintaining a working relationship with a client within professional, ethical and legal boundaries. Case studies and extracts from online sessions show how the skills are put into practice, while practical exercises and points for further consideration help readers to develop their own knowledge and skills. Until now, books and articles have generally focused on the therapeutic work done by counsellors online. However, this book addresses people who use counselling skills in a wide range of contexts; including counselling, education, mental health, social care and careers guidance.

The plethora of online services now available has led to a growing demand for practitioners to look beyond traditional face-to-face therapy and take advantage of the flexibility which email and the Internet can offer them and their clients. The guide gives up-to-the minute information and research, ethical and legal advice, on the practicalities of setting up or joining a service, and the essential therapeutic skills needed to be an effective online therapist. Writing for an international audience, the authors discuss the issues for practitioners using the Internet today, as well as in the future.

Online counselling practice is written to assist practitioners providing online counselling practice in various settings and also working individually as private practitioners. Online counselling practice can be seen as another method of providing counselling online with the use of technology today. There are many ways of establishing and preparing yourself for online counselling practice and this eBook provides practitioners with ideas and information for working in the area of online counselling practice.

"This book offers a collection of case studies and research from around the globe, comparing and contrasting instructional design and guidance methods from developed and developing countries alike"--Provided by publisher.

This innovative new resource outlines the process of conducting individual, family and group therapy online with the use of video conferencing tools, and explores the unique concerns associated with this increasingly popular and convenient approach to treatment. Offering mental health practitioners a definitive presentation on how to use online tools to facilitate psychological intervention, the book will also enable readers to learn about the processes of virtual individual, couple, family and group therapy, specific concerns related to online group dynamics, as well as the responsibilities of the therapist and group leader in online sessions. This is the perfect companion for counselors of all backgrounds and disciplines who are interested in offering or improving their approach to virtual services.