Cyber Counselling

Dr. Faye Mishna, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

WHAT IS THE INNOVATION THAT YOU HAVE INTRODUCED TO YOUR TEACHING PRACTICE?
The Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work provides an opportunity for students in the MSW program to gain experience in the area of online counselling through a new initiative offered within the context of the practicum. In addition to gaining practice experience and skill in providing face-to-face services, the option of counselling through email exchange is available. The clients benefiting from the pilot online or “cyber counselling” program are University of Toronto undergraduate students at St. Michael’s College and Victoria College. The practicum experience situates graduates of the program among the few counselors considered qualified to provide cyber counselling.

WHAT RESEARCH INFORMS YOUR WORK IN THIS AREA?
The cyber counselling initiative is informed by new developments in the field, taking advantage of local community expertise to set up the program and provide training in effective practice. Funding for the program is provided by Bell Canada. Although there is not a great deal of research in this area, we reviewed the literature on existing research to inform development of the program. A key aim of this program is to conduct research and evaluation, providing a unique opportunity for further exploration to deepen understanding of effective online counselling techniques.

PLEASE DESCRIBE THE IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS. WHAT WAS INVOLVED?
Setting up the program involved collaboration with the participating colleges, St. Michael’s and Victoria, as well as with central UofT student services to ensure that efforts were in alignment and to minimize potentially overlapping services. The technological components include secure server infrastructure to support the communication processes. As well appropriate supervisory and back-up support for the Masters students is essential to ensure the quality of the program. The MSW students are supervised by a registered social worker with a great deal of experience.

WERE THERE ANY OBSTACLES THAT NEEDED TO BE OVERCOME?
Guidelines for the counselling process were established, for example responses being provided based on a specified schedule, in much the same way as the face-to-face office appointments occur. The program administrators faced practical and technical challenges and had to negotiate the confidentiality and ethics considerations related to counselling practice in combination with research activity.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR THE LEARNERS IN THIS PROGRAM?
The main benefit to the Masters Students is the opportunity to gain unique experience in this emerging form of counselling and gain competency that will be beneficial as support programs using online technologies become more common. They also have the opportunity to contribute to research activities in this area.

WERE THERE ANY SURPRISES OR UNEXPECTED OUTCOMES?
While not a surprise, one of the unique aspects of this project is the layering of the interactions with supervisors guiding the Masters students, who in turn provide support to the undergraduate students. In combination with the research program students, this is a unique process, informed by and informing research in the field.

DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR THIS PROJECT IN THE FUTURE?
The project will continue to address the impact that cyber activity is having on traditional counselling and contribute to research in this area.