Young Kimberly S
Department of Management Sciences, St. Bonaventure University School of Business and Center for Online Addiction, St. Bonaventure, New York 14778, USA.
Cyberpsychol Behav. 2005 Apr;8(2):172-7. doi: 10.1089/cpb.2005.8.172.
Trends over the past decade have shown that online counseling has grown in terms of popularity among consumers and clinicians alike; however, little, if any empirical evidence exists that examines client attitudes towards online counseling as alternative to traditional face-to-face therapy. Therefore, this study investigated client attitudes towards online counseling. Data was collected from 48 e-clients who received online counseling at the Center for Online Addiction. Variables such as client perceptions and concerns about using online counseling, clients' reasons for seeking online counseling over in-office treatment, and demographic profiles of e-clients were assessed. Results suggested that Caucasian, middle-aged males, with at least a four-year bachelors degree were most likely to use online counseling and anonymity, convenience, and counselor credentials were the most cited reasons they sought online counseling over in-office treatment. The lack of perceived privacy and security during online chat sessions and the fear of being caught while conducting online sessions were the main concerns reported by e-clients. A better understanding of client motives and perceptions towards online counseling helps to guide treatment in using the Internet as a clinical tool, especially as the Internet becomes increasingly more available in previously remote markets and the field of online counseling continues to grow.
过去十年的趋势表明，在线咨询在消费者和临床医生中都越来越受欢迎；然而，几乎没有实证证据研究客户对在线咨询作为传统面对面治疗替代方式的态度。因此，本研究调查了客户对在线咨询的态度。数据收集自48名在在线成瘾中心接受在线咨询的电子客户。评估了诸如客户对使用在线咨询的看法和担忧、客户选择在线咨询而非办公室治疗的原因以及电子客户的人口统计学特征等变量。结果表明，拥有至少四年本科学历的白人中年男性最有可能使用在线咨询，匿名性、便利性和咨询师资质是他们选择在线咨询而非办公室治疗的最常提及的原因。电子客户报告的主要担忧是在线聊天过程中缺乏隐私和安全保障，以及担心在线咨询时被发现。更好地理解客户对在线咨询的动机和看法有助于指导将互联网用作临床工具的治疗，特别是随着互联网在以前偏远的市场中越来越普及，在线咨询领域也在不断发展。
