from the American Counseling Association
sponsored by the ACA Foundation

From groceries to diamond jewelry, you can have practically anything delivered via the Internet today. That list includes not just merchandise, but personal services as well, including online counseling help, or "cybercounseling" as it's sometimes called..

It's a service a lot of people are using. For someone suffering from a fear of crowds or going outdoors, or who's ill and housebound, online counseling can be a great alternative. But due to its ease and convenience a lot of people are taking advantage of such online services. It's important to remember, however, that it's not right for everyone, or every problem, and it always lacks the face to face interaction that can sometimes help in communicating.

Many highly qualified counseling professionals now offer very effective help via online counseling, but you need to check out any counselor before starting work with them. It takes little effort or expense to create a website and call yourself a "counselor," despite lacking appropriate credentials or training.

Professional organizations, such as the American Counseling Association, have established ethical standards for cybercounseling that provide online counselors with clear guidelines to protect consumers working with them.

These standards require that counselors should offer complete and honest disclosure about themselves and their services. An online counselor should make it easy to find out what degrees are held and in what fields, what licenses and certifications are held, and professional organizations in which the person participates (such as the American Counseling Association or the American Psychological Association). Does the counselor specialize and have experience and expertise in the area where you are seeking help?

Where is the counselor located? There are now cases in courts asking whether it's legal for someone to be offering counseling services in a state where he or she is not licensed.

Answering such questions still does not guarantee the quality of the services being provided. A legitimate professional will offer a trial period, without requiring an expensive, long-term commitment, so that you can judge if the services offered are helpful for you.

A professional counselor, following the ACA ethical guidelines, will inform a client early in the relationship if cybercounseling is not the correct approach, and should suggest alternatives better suited to the problem.

Online counseling can be a valuable resource for many people, but it does have its limitations. Ask questions and evaluate carefully to make sure it's the best way to get the help you need.

"The Counseling Corner" is provided as a public service by the American Counseling Association, the nation's largest organization of counseling professionals. Learn more about the counseling profession at the ACA web site, www.counseling.org.