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School Counsellors’ and Students’ Attitudes to Online Counselling: A Qualitative Study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2015

Kevin Glasheen ,
Marilyn Campbell  and
Ian Shochet
Kevin Glasheen*
Affiliation:
Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Marilyn Campbell
Affiliation:
Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Ian Shochet
Affiliation:
Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
*
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Kevin Glasheen, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), School of Cultural and Professional Learning, A Block, Level 3, Room 325, Victoria Park Road Kelvin Grove Campus, Kelvin Grove QLD 4059, Australia. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

An exploratory qualitative study was conducted to examine the perceptions and attitudes of both school counsellors and students to online counselling. Focus groups were conducted with two groups of school counsellors and six groups of secondary students. It was found that counsellors were hesitant to use online counselling because they were not convinced that it was effective, and without the necessary online skills, they were concerned they would not be competent to deal with potential litigious and security pitfalls. Students were generally positive about the opportunity to access the school counsellor online. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Keywords

online counsellingsecondary schoolsschool counsellorssecondary school studentsinternethelp-seeking
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 6 , 2015 , e12
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2015 

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