Counseling and the Electronic Revolution
Kathryn H. Reynolds, M.S., M.L.S
kreynolds@library.wright.edu


Index

  1. Opportunities/Possibilities
    1. Enhanced Communication
    2. Education and Information
    3. Professional Development
    4. New Therapeutic Approaches
    5. Marketing and Promotion of Services
    6. Scholarly Opportunities
  2. Concerns
    1. Unrealistic Expectations of New Technologies
    2. Disorders and Problems Generated/Exacerbated by New Technologies
    3. Counselors' Own Anxiety and Fear of Technology
  3. Conclusions
  4. About This Site
  5. References

  1. Opportunities/Possibilities

    1. Enhanced Communication

      1. Electronic Mail

      2. Listservs, News/Discussion/Chat Groups, Bulletin Board Services

      3. Professional Associations, Organizations, and Government Agencies

      4. Videoconferencing/Teleconferencing

      index

    2. Education and Information

      1. Education, Government, or Organization Web Sites

      2. Subject-Specific Resources

      3. Online Tutorials

      index

    3. Professional Development

      1. Distance and Continuing Education

      2. Web-Based Training/Instruction

      3. Conference and Workshop Announcements, Seminars, and Calls for Papers

      4. Publishers' Catalogs and Full Text Journals

      5. Career and Job Searches / Resumes

      index

    4. New Therapeutic Approaches

      1. Initial contact with e-mail, teleconferencing, real-time audio - and/or videoconferencing (intake sessions using online surveys or questionnaires.)

      2. Telephone Counseling

      3. Web Counseling (offering a "virtual ear")

      4. Interactive Counseling Computer Software

      5. Testing and Assessment Online

      6. Telecommuting/Working from Home (increased flexibility and freedom)

      index

    5. Marketing and Promotion of Services

      1. Individuals, Departments, Agencies, Schools Now Advertise on the Web

        1. Individuals

        2. Groups, Departments, Agencies

        3. Schools

      2. Therapist Directories/Referrals

      index

    6. Scholarly Opportunities

      1. Create and Maintain Educational/Informational Web Sites

      2. Write/Edit Electronic Books or Journal Articles

      3. Identify/Apply for Grants

  2. Concerns

    1. Unrealistic Expectations of New Technologies

      1. New Frontier

        1. new language (net, web, spam, flame, "come-on" lines like, "Hi, Do you log on here often?")

        2. new rules ("netiquette")

        3. new setting "Cyberspace" / coined by William Gibson in his book, Neuromancer / ("cyber" disorders, romance, rape, censors, Nazis, shock, super-cyber- surfers, etc.)

      2. Evaluation of Resources

        1. no quality control of information on the Internet

        2. your responsibility to evaluate and analyze the information you find

      3. Anthropomorphization of Computers

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    2. Disorders and Problems Generated/Exacerbated by New Technologies

      1. Increased Isolation/Lack of Social Interaction (or just the opposite?)

      2. Internet Addiction

      3. Internet Crimes/Fraud

        1. fraud (where money is taken under false pretenses or someone takes on a false identity)

        2. unauthorized use of computer systems / "hackers"

        3. computer viruses

        4. obscenity, stalking, and sexual predators

        5. online hate groups / Web sites created to monitor extremist groups:

      index

    3. Counselors' Own Anxiety and Fear of Technology

      1. Humanistic and Personal Nature of Counseling Lost

        1. fear loss of intuitive and personal nature of counseling / how to develop a genuine relationship with remote clients

        2. fear loss of privacy / need "encryption" programs to ensure (?) online privacy / PGP Pretty Good Privacy and PGP Mail 4.5 are examples of software available

        3. difficulty interpreting body launguage, tone, pregnant pauses online / electronic equivalents do NOT offer as much valuable information / human encounters lost

      2. Ethics Statements and Service Standards

      3. Many Questions Remain! (Ethics, Confidentiality, Fraud, Client Safety, Crisis Counseling, or other Client Emergencies)

    index

  3. Conclusions

    1. Counselors have new roles to play. We all need to grow and evolve along with our clients.

    2. We must be open to new approaches. Embrace whatever improves client outcomes and enhances counselor skills. Is the glass half empty or half full? It's all in how YOU choose to perceive it.

    3. Counselor, Heal Thyself!

      1. For information and support, take advantage of e-mail, listservs, discussion groups.

      2. Make use of training, education, and development opportunities on the Web.

      3. For relaxation, or to relieve stress, enjoy Web pages with jokes, hobbies, spirituality, meditative retreats, etc.

        1. take a virtual tour of a Japanese Shinto shrine: benten.fix.co.jp/people/matt/shinto/np/shinto.html

        2. browse through great works of art in museums & galleries around the world at World Wide Arts Resources: wwar.world- arts-resources.com/

        3. visit Interlude-An Internet Retreat: www.teleport.com/~interlud/

        4. enjoy Laugh Web: world.std.com/~joeshmoe/laughweb/lweb_ns.html

        5. send a friend a virtual gift or tripVirtual Presents: www.virtualpresents.com/
          or send a kiss from The Kiss: THEKISS.com

      4. Go with the flow.   There's no point fighting technology.  Your energy would be better spent improving what does not work and using the technology that does work to strengthen yourself and your profession.

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  4. About This Site

    Kathryn Reynolds has worked as a librarian at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio since 1983 and is currently the Education and Human Services librarian.  She graduated from James Madison University in 1972 with a BS in English and a minor in secondary education.  She earned masters degrees in Library and Information Science from the University of Kentucky in 1983 and in Mental Health Counseling from Wright State University in 1992.

    This site was originally created as an outline and handout for a presentation at the All-Ohio Counselors Conference in Columbus, Ohio on October 30, 1997.  It was later added as a link to the Counseling subject page on LIBNET to support student and faculty research in Wright State University's Human Services Department.

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  5. References


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Kathryn Reynolds: kreynolds@library.wright.edu

HTML markup by Ran Raider, Library Associate, Wright State University

(last updated 7/10/97)