Setting Up and Maintaining an Online Counselling Programme in a University

1
Setting Up and Maintaining an Online Counselling
Programme in a University

• Rationale
• Ethical Considerations
• Technical Specifications
• Administration
• Training
• Results
• Recommendations Suggestions

2
Rationale

• Who are the intended clients ?
• Why reach these clients online ?

3
Ethical Considerations

• Codes of Ethics
• www.ISMHO.org
• www.ihealthcoalition.org
• www.NZAC.co.nz
• Limits of Confidentiality

4
ONLINE TERMS AND CONDITIONS

•     ONLINE TERMS AND CONDITIONS  1I have
  familiarized myself with the information provided
  on AUTs online counselling webpages. 2I am 18
  years of age or older.  3I agree to supply only
  true information on the Welcome Form and I agree
  not to deliberately omit significant
  information. 4I am an AUT student with a current
  enrolment or an AUT staff member and I agree to
  notify AUT online counsellors when my enrolment
  or employment at AUT ceases.  5I accept that
  during our initial communications, both parties
  will need to evaluate whether or not we believe
  we can work together effectively, and whether or
  not online counselling is the best option for me.
  I also accept that either party may discontinue
  the counselling relationship at any time.  6I
  accept that an estimate of waiting time, if there
  is a waiting list in place, is provisional and
  AUT will endeavour to commence online counselling
  as soon as practicably possible.  7I am seeking
  services specifically for my own personal
  counselling, therapy, or supervision, - I am not
  undertaking research either for publication or
  for private use.  8I agree that the online
  counselling or therapy services provided by AUT
  will be deemed to take place in New Zealand. I
  accept that the provision of these services and
  all our work together will be governed under the
  laws of New Zealand.  9I accept that AUT does not
  provide a 24-hour emergency service and that I
  should identify appropriate services in my local
  area which will be able to provide emergency
  assistance, should this be required 10I agree
  that neither my online counsellor nor AUT will be
  held responsible for direct or consequential loss
  due to internet service failures or computer
  malfunction.  11I accept that none of AUTs
  online counsellors are medical doctors and as
  such will not provide medical or psychiatric
  advice, and that no counselling or therapy
  services provided via this site will be construed
  as the practice of medicine or telemedicine.  12I
  am aware of and have considered the alternatives
  to online counselling, some of which include
  face-to-face counselling, speaking with a friend
  or family member, exercising, meditation, or
  doing nothing. 13I understand and accept that the
  provision of online counselling services is still
  relatively new and as such is less
  well-researched than other traditional methods of
  counselling and therapy. I understand and accept
  that no warranty as to the effectiveness of the
  counselling service provided by AUT is either
  expressed or implied. 14Confidentiality and
  RecordsConfidentiality of both client and
  counsellor is of utmost importance. Your
  information may only be released with your
  permission except where such information relates
  to suicidal or homicidal risks or risk of harm to
  self or others.Records are maintained of online
  counselling transactions. These records may
  include direct recordings of communications.
  Where such direct recordings are being kept, you
  will be informed. In the case where you store
  direct recordings of online counselling
  transactions, please be aware that the
  counsellors information in the form of responses
  and communications to you is also confidential
  and may not be released by yourself in any form
  except with the express consent of the
  counsellor.  PrivacyAUT will abide by the
  Privacy Act 1993, the Health Information Privacy
  Code 1994, and its own privacy policy standards.
  Information is routinely collected during the
  course of initiating and undertaking online
  counselling in accordance with usual counselling
  practice, and stored in locked cabinets in the
  Health Counselling and Wellbeing Centre. You do
  not have to supply any information you do not
  wish to. This process is entirely voluntary. Not
  supplying any information requested may mean you
  cannot access online counselling services. We
  provide AUT with non-identifiable demographic
  information about students and staff so that we
  can measure the effectiveness of our services.
  This information includes age, gender, ethnicity,
  faculty and sometimes reason for the visit. No
  identifiable information is provided without your
  consent.Health Counselling Wellbeing Centres
  are at Wellesley Campus WB Building Wellesley
  Street East Auckland CentralAkoranga Campus AS
  Building Akoranga Drive NorthcoteIf you wish to
  view information held about you in regards to
  online counselling, please contact the manager of
  Health, Counselling and Wellbeing
  stella.mcfarlane_at_aut.ac.nz Ph 921 9992 to arrange
  this. 15The content on these web pages (and the
  information and services provided on or via them)
  are subject to change without notice. No person
  may rely on any information contained in, or
  services provided via, these web pages. To the
  maximum extent permitted by law, AUT, its staff
  and service providers disclaim any and all
  responsibility in respect of these web pages and
  the services provided via them, and any loss or
  damage suffered or incurred by a person for any
  reason relying on any of the information provided
  in or services provided via these web pages. 16I
  have read and understood the above terms and
  conditions of service and agree to be bound by
  these terms and conditions in receiving online
  counselling from AUT     Have you read,
  understood and accepted all our Terms and
  Conditions for the provision of online
  counselling?   Yes

5
Technical Specifications

• What URL
• Asynchronous
• Synchronous
• Record keeping
• Skype ?

6
Administration

• Home Page
• Registration Form
• Eg AUT University website
• gt Students gt Student Services
• gt Health Counselling and Wellbeing
• gt Online Counselling (Homepage)
• or gt Online Counselling Registration

7
http//www.aut.ac.nz/students/student_services/hea
lth_counselling_and_wellbeing/online_registration.
htm

• ONLINE COUNSELLING REGISTRATION
•   Welcome Form   Welcome to AUT Online
  Counselling Services. Given that you are reading
  this, you are probably thinking about online
  counselling for yourself or someone you know.
  Before accessing the service, it is important for
  us to go over some points. There are no correct
  or wrong responses to the questions. Completing
  this form will help us get an idea of what is
  going on for you and also enable us to ensure
  that you find out important information relevant
  to online counselling before proceeding. In some
  cases, initiating counselling by online methods
  may not be appropriate for you (e.g. suicidal or
  homicidal thoughts / feelings). This will be
  indicated to you clearly. You will either not
  be able to submit this form, or you will be
  contacted by us. Completing this form may take up
  to 30 minutes. If you only partially complete the
  form or decide not to submit, your details will
  not be saved.
• Several specific factors from your current
  situation may be worth considering when you and
  AUT evaluate whether working online is right for
  you.
•      AUT ID  Please fill in your AUT ID number
  (Staff or Student ID)     PREFERRED EMAIL   
• Please enter your preferred email address to
  which we will reply     NAME  Please tell us
  what name you would like to use    Current
  Circumstances   Please describe your current
  circumstances and why you are seeking online
  counselling?  

8
Training

• Sourcing Training providers
• AUT University offers two papers online
• Online Communities Communication
• Technology Mediated Counselling Psychotherapy
• Resource Lists

9
Results

• The following graphs attempt to represent the
  trends (if any) between 2006 and 2007 at AUT
  University.
• Comments on differences with face to face
  counselling in the same setting

10
Presenting Issues
11
Presenting Issues

• The Top four presenting Issues varied little from
  2006 to 2007
• They were
• Relationships (more sexual issues in 07)
• Depression
• Self Esteem / Identity
• Anxiety

12
Age Distribution
13

• 2006 n 57
• 2007 n 74
• Males were more likely to present with issues of
  intimacy/sexuality than they do in traditional
  face to face counselling.

14

• 2006 n 57
• 2007 n 74
• European 49
• Asian 25
• Pasifika 08
• Maori 07
• Unstated 11
• Asians presented in much higher proportion than
  in face to face counselling

15
Recommendations Suggestions

• Disinhibition Effect
• (see John Suler The psychology of
  cyberspace)
• Use of compulsory fields
• Take ethics to next level.
• (always assume someone else can read)
• Feedback for research