Online counselling and the Internet: Perspectives for mental health care supervision and education

Abstract

Mental health care involves interaction among individuals. As many individuals spend increasing amounts of time interacting with others online, counselling activities on the Internet and other forms of computer networking are becoming more popular. This article describes a variety of modes of online mental health care, including e-mail counselling, online family therapy and Internet support groups. As addressed in the article, these modes provide an assortment of perils as well as potentials, such as complex privacy and trust considerations. Research on these matters is in its very early stages, which is hampering the efforts of many counsellors and clients to make informed choices about treatment. If education and supervision for mental health professionals includes some exposure to online interaction, the individuals involved can gain perspective on face-to-face encounters.