Recently, counseling and coaching via the internet has become increasingly popular. Online counseling is also called e-counseling. But how exactly does it work, and who is it intended for?
What is counselling?
Counseling is an accessible, practical and effective form of talk therapy. It is intended for people who are emotionally healthy, but are dealing with an issue or problem that they cannot resolve on their own. This may involve relationship problems, parenting issues, stress at work, depression, a major change, loneliness, etc. Problems that almost everyone will face in the course of their lives. The feeling that there should be more to life or that you are always going around in the same circle can also be a reason to seek the help of a counselor. A counselor helps you through structured conversations. In the first conversations, the counselor helps you to clarify what exactly your problem is and where it comes from. Then you determine what your end goal is, and the counselor will help you discover what you can do to achieve that goal. You make an action plan together with the counselor. Finally, the counselor coaches you in carrying out that action plan until you achieve the goal. This way you will find a solution or a way to deal with your situation better.
What is coaching?
Coaching is even more practical and goal-oriented than counseling. Your end goal is already known and clearly defined. For example, you want to quit smoking, lose 10 kilos, or learn to defend yourself against a dominant colleague. The coach guides you on the way to that goal. This is very similar to the final stage of counseling. The main difference between counseling and coaching therefore lies in the nature of the problem. In the case of social-emotional problems, counseling is more likely to be discussed. The end goal is often described in terms of feelings. For problems that are more practical in nature, and where a measurable and demonstrable end goal can be described, we are more likely to talk about coaching.
Counseling or coaching via the internet
Because the differences between counseling and coaching have been described above, I will only speak about counseling below.
E-counselling is actually the same as counseling. The difference is that contact takes place via secure chat and/or e-mail traffic. This has a number of advantages:
- Online counseling can take place where and when it suits you.
- Writing down events, thoughts and feelings can help. You can think calmly, reread and rewrite.
- If you save the conversations, you can read them again later.
- Online counseling works quickly, it is easier to have more than 1 conversation per week.
- It is accessible to deaf people and people who are less mobile due to physical limitations.
- It is accessible, there is no waiting list and you do not need a referral letter.
- It is relatively cheap. In some cases, the costs are partially reimbursed by the Healthcare Act.
- You are in your own environment. The physical absence of a person in front of you can provide a greater sense of anonymity and privacy. This makes it easier to open up and talk about your feelings.
Of course there are also disadvantages:
- Non-verbal communication is lacking. As a result, the written text can lead to misunderstandings or lack of clarity.
- Health insurers are still very cautious about reimbursement.
- There may be temporary technical disruptions.
For the process to proceed smoothly, it is important that you are aware of these disadvantages and that you actively respond to them, for example by asking for clarification if something is not clear.
Different shapes
E-counseling exists in different forms. First of all, there is counseling via email. The client describes his or her situation in an email. The counselor carefully reads this email, analyzes the letter very carefully and forms a picture of the situation and its key points. In the response, the counselor asks for more explanation, clarification, background, and more detailed descriptions of the situation in question. Moreover, more often than in face-to-face contact, the counselor will ask whether he has understood it correctly. The lack of immediate feedback through body language (e.g. facial expressions or voice inflections) makes it easier for misunderstandings to arise. Both parties must therefore always write as clearly as possible and check whether the message has been conveyed properly. The counselor structures the process, in the same way as in conversations. In this way, after a number of emails, the client gains more insight into his or her situation and its context. The client can save or print the emails. Reading the emails in the meantime provides extra support. The client can write and send the emails at any time that suits him. So he can write, think, rewrite, until he is satisfied with the text. The counselor responds with an agreed frequency. This could mean that he responds to every email he receives within two days, but also that he bundles his response into 1 response per week. The client can indicate what he would like.
To chat
Another form is counseling via a chat box. Now the client and counselor are online simultaneously, having a conversation via a direct connection. This can be a secure chat box, but also a medium such as MSN. These chat sessions are just like a normal conversation. Because everything is typed, it goes a bit slower. Both parties have more time to think and must choose their words carefully to avoid misunderstandings. In most forms of chat sessions you can use emoticons, which somewhat compensates for the lack of body language. The chat sessions take place at agreed times. The structure is the same as that of regular conversations or emails. In the beginning it is about clarifying the problem, then the counselor encourages you to think about the situation you want , and finally it is time for action that leads to change. You can also save and read chat sessions. That supports the process.
Who is it suitable for?
Counseling via the internet is suitable for people with an emotionally stable basis, who no longer know how to proceed. This concerns minor problems, such as insecurity, problems with assertiveness, difficulty with a major change, etc. Moreover, it is very important that the client feels comfortable using the internet.
In summary, online counseling or coaching is a modern and valuable addition to care!