(Edited, 02-28-08)
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Thursday, August 28th, 2008
Portal for Student and Professional Counselors (PSPC)
Empowerment Through Human Development and Information Technology

 

 

 

 

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Online Help Sites

Online Services--Ethics and Practice Standards
Providers and Referral Services
Individual Providers

Online Services--Ethics and Practice Standards

The Practice of Internet Counseling (National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. [NBCC]) -November 2001

Ethical Standards for Internet Online Counseling (Approved by the Governing Council, American Counseling Association) -October 1999

APA Statement on Services by Telephone, Teleconferencing, and Internet (Ethics Committee of the American Psychological Association) -November 5, 1997

International Society for Mental Health Online (ISMHO)
A not-for-profit organization, which was formed in 1997 to promote the development, understanding, and integration of information technology options within mental health services.

Suggested Principles for the Online Provision of Mental Health Services (International Society for Mental Health Online [ISMHO])

Metanoia ["a change of mind"] (Martha Ainsworth, Metanoia.org)
Public access. This Web site has been transformed from that of a former Internet consultant for providers of "e-therapy" to a site for both consumers and providers of e-therapy.. Multiple guidelines and tips are provided for potential consumers and provider of these e-therapy services.

The Psychology of Cyberspace (John Suler, PhD, Department of Psychology, Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ)
An online book with links to article and subjects--a book search system is available.

Providers and Referral Services

AskTheInternetTherapist.com (Internet Therapist, LLC, Scottsdale, AZ)
Approximately 16 e-therapists, who provide e-mail and audiovisual Internet counseling, are identified. The e-mail exchange system is not disclosed [April 2005]. NetMeeting, CUworld Instant Messaging (previously, CUseeMe), MSN Messenger, and Yahoo Messenger are used for [live] audiovisual Internet counseling. Public service components include links to health tips, sample e-mail responses and articles (Site Map> Therapists Staff), and other services. The public can access monitored discussion groups--a no cost registration is required to post messages.

MyTHERAPYnet.com (MyTHERAPYnet, Inc., Woodland Hills, CA)
Select and communicate with a therapist from a list of approximately 350 professionals with complete biographies (the overall database lists approximately 800 therapists and "life coaches"). Multilingual (e.g., English, Farsi, Russian, and Spanish) therapists are available. Online communication security between a client and therapist is assured; however, details related to the proprietary technologies used is vague (especially with regard to live or synchronous client-therapist exchanges). Complete biographies are available for about 350 therapists and "life coaches" (from a database of approximately 800 [April 2005]).

Online Counseling at 4eTherapy (Find-a-Therapist, Inc., Mesa, AZ)
Identify approximately a dozen therapists associated with Online Counseling at 4eTherapy. These independent therapists offer e-mail and [live] chat services. Electronic messages are exchanged through Safe-mail e-mail accounts, and live service appears to be based on PHP Live, which is a Web browser-based customer support system.

Therapist Directory: Find-a-Therapist (Find-a-Therapist, Inc., Mesa, AZ)
Use the U.S. listings, professional directories, or international listings to identify a therapist in your area. (An atypical search system is available.) A profile (including contact information) is available for each professional or organization, which has purchased a listing with Find-a-Therapist. Use Our Family of Directories to identify other Find-a-Therapist domain names and associated therapists and organizations.

PersonalSolutions.com (PersonalSolutions.com, LLC, Dallas, TX)
PersonalSolutions.com has two "look-a-like" Web sites--one for clients (personalsolutions.com), and the other for therapists (pstourguide.com). Furthermore, these identically formatted sites have an integrated link structure--which site a visitor is navigating is difficult to determine (without observing the domain within the "address" field).

For consumers seeking online or in-office services, go to the directory, Find a Licensed Therapist. A gender preference is mandatory; however, other database query variables (i.e., Area of Specialty, Zip Code, and By Name) are optional.

Associate Therapists include a biography, schedule (or calendar), and some include a link to her or his Web site. Associate Therapists accept and respond to e-mail inquiries--typical fees range from $25-$35 per inquiry-and-response. (Clients are encouraged to register and use a Safe-mail e-mail account.) Basic Associate Therapists provide contact information such as address, and telephone and fax numbers, and some include a link to a Web site.

For both Associate and Basic Associate Therapists, 38 females and 31 males are listed [April 2005].

Individual Providers

HopeAllianz.com (Jody L. Friesen Grande, MSW, LICSW; Plymouth, MN)
Online service options for therapy, family consultation, and personal coaching are based on e-mail correspondence. Services (for many disorders and issues) are provided from within a holistic framework (i.e., focusing on the mind, body, and spirit connection). There is not a charge for the initial e-mail correspondence for any option. HopeAllianz has an online Mental Health Resource Center and a free monthly Newsletter.

Virtual Clinic-NetAddiction.com (Kimberly S. Young, "Cyber-Psychologist," Center for Online Addiction/eBehavior, LLC, Bradford, PA)
Chat room counseling involves the use of a private room and Yahoo Messenger, a consumer and server-managed communication system. Services are provided for individuals and couples who seek confidential advice on how to deal with addiction, relationship, anxiety, abuse, and related issues. (Telephone counseling services are available.) Refer to directories, Research Articles on Internet Addiction and Internet Addiction Test Index for resources that are accessible to the public.

Center for Psychological Advice (Cathy Chance, PhD, Psychologist; Long Beach, CA)
Counseling options include e-mail- and chat-based services related to depression, anxiety, stress, domestic violence, chronic pain, troubled relationships, and other mental health issues. No cost services include a forum (or message board) and a hosted chat room twice per week.

Counselor2you.com (Richard Bush, Doctorate in Psychology; Phoenix, AZ)
e-mail-based counseling services, with the option for individual chat sessions via an online chat room or AOL Instant Messenger. Private practice has included offering self-improvement guidance, counseling, and hypnotherapy.

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