Recent Activity

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  Would you see a psychologist online? Why and when would you choose this over face-to-face therapy?

  I have a concern... A therapist and a client/patient usually establish a good relationship over time...  I've noticed in a related subject that someone, although not always the same person, would be available to assist a person seeking online assistance.  Isn't that questionable customer service?

  Here's an analogy: I work at a call center.  It's my duty to call back a person when I'm working on their issue and it's resolved or needs more work, etc.  That way the customer doesn't have to call back in to someone different and explain the whole issue all over again.

  Another problem is that if it's an ongoing issue, and it's explained again by the customer, some details may be remembered differently or explained differently when calling in for the 2nd, 3rd time, etc.

  On top of that, depending on who the last customer care rep was talking with the customer, that care rep may have interpreted the information the customer gave him/her one way (and not necessarily in a way that might help the customer), and then noted his/her own interpretation of the issue.  Do the online therapists keep track of the clients' information?  Is this information secure?  If this information is shared between online therapists, I am sure each online therapist brings his/her own experience and ideas as to how to treat the issue...

  Then, in the call center scenario, when I or another rep gets the call, and reads the notes regarding the customer's last call, what was noted is sometimes a total mismatch, once more thorough troubleshooting/questioning/investigating is done.

  So how can this forum offer consistency?

  Sorry to be such a devil's advocate, but therapists tend to want to put their clients'/patients' wellbeing first and foremost, so I am not sure this could be provided in this type of forum.

  I continue to like the premise...  My thinking is that this could be used for minor issues, but if a person needs more, would your services recommend that the customer seek counseling?

  There are 'free' or 'discounted' options out there in most communities.  Universities, church groups, advocates, social services, societies...  But if the person who needs the help isn't aware of those, they perhaps should be pointed in the right direction.  Are you willing to be the launching point in some cases and not try to take on people's problems who clearly need to actually 'see' someone in person?

  And if you are willing to point the client in the right direction, that's good, but how will you be able to tell for sure?  What if you, no fault to yourself, were not informed enough by the typing (ie: the client/customer didn't indicate, couldn't relay enough emotion, etc) that someone was in serious trouble?  What would be the consequences and could you live with them?  How will you know if they client ever did seek the help they needed or were too afraid to do so? Would you even find out what happened to them?  If someone logged in once and then you never heard from them ever again, how would that sit with you?

  Would people then be required to register with their phone & cell number, address information, etc so that in the case of an emergency an online therapist would hopefully know when to call that person's local health authorities/next of kin to alert them that the client may or may not be in trouble??  What would a client's reaction be if nothing at all was wrong and all of sudden an ambulance and their parents were franticly banging on the door at 2am?

  Wow, these ideas are just starting to pour out of me. So much to figure out for an online forum!  lol

   

  Posted 08 Jul 08

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  Comparing online vs face-to-face psychology, what do you think online psychology would be like?

  Hello?

   

  Posted 30 May 08