Client’s Experiences of Online Counseling: Satisfaction and Therapeutic Alliance

Year 2022, Volume: 51 Issue: 1, 634 - 658, 27.04.2022

Gonca Zeren Seher Merve Erus Yağmur Amanvermez Arzu Buyruk Genç Baki Duy

https://doi.org/10.14812/cuefd.843542

Abstract

Online counseling has been increasingly becoming widespread. Nevertheless, the number of studies investigating counselees' online counseling experience in-depth is scarce, especially in Turkey, despite the proliferation of the service. Therefore, this phenomenological study aims to understand the experiences of participants who received online counseling regarding satisfaction and therapeutic alliance. For this purpose, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants. Thematic analysis was applied to explore their satisfaction with online counseling and therapeutic alliance. The results showed that three themes emerged for satisfaction with online counseling; improvements in the symptoms, the flexibility of the online counseling, and limitations of online counseling. Thematic analysis of therapeutic alliance revealed the themes; goals, tasks, and bond. As a result, the participants reported high satisfaction with the online sessions, and they were able to establish a therapeutic alliance with their counselor in setting goals, seeking solutions to problems, and bonding. Overall, most of the participants reported positive experiences with online counseling in terms of improvement in their situation and establishing significant relationships with their counselor over the Internet.

Keywords

Online counseling Face-to-face counseling, Clients’ satisfaction, Therapeutic alliance.

Supporting Institution

TUBİTAK

Project Number

115K429

Thanks

This project was granted by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) (project number: 115K429). We would like to thank to TUBITAK for providing financial support. We also would like to thank to the counselors and supervisor took part in this project.

Danışanların Çevrimiçi Psikolojik Danışma Deneyimleri: Memnuniyet ve Terapötik İşbirliği

Abstract

Çevrimiçi psikolojik danışmanlık uygulamaları gittikçe yaygınlaşmaktadır. Ancak Türkiye’de danışanların bu konudaki deneyimlerini derinlemesine ele alan çalışmalar oldukça sınırlıdır. Bu fenomenolojik çalışmanın amacı, çevrimiçi danışmanlık alan danışanların memnuniyet ve terapötik işbirliği konusundaki deneyimlerini anlamaktır. Bu amaçla çevrimiçi psikolojik danışma almış altı danışan ile yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler yapılmıştır. Danışanların memnuniyetlerini ve terapötik işbirliği deneyimlerini ortaya koymak için tematik analiz uygulanmıştır. Sonuçlar, çevrimiçi danışmanlıktan memnuniyet için üç temanın ortaya çıktığını göstermiştir; semptomlarda iyileşmeler, çevrimiçi psikolojik danışmanın esnekliği ve çevrimiçi danışma hakkında olumsuz görüşler. Terapötik işbirliğinin tematik analizi ise amaçlar, görevler ve bağ temalarını ortaya çıkarmıştır. Sonuç olarak katılımcılar çevrimiçi oturumlardan yüksek memnuniyet bildirmişlerdir ve psikolojik danışmanları ile hedef belirleme, sorunlara çözüm arama ve bağ kurma konusunda terapötik işbirliği kurabilmişlerdir. Genel olarak katılımcıların çoğu, durumlarında iyileşme ve psikolojik danışmanlarıyla İnternet üzerinden önemli ilişkiler kurma açısından çevrimiçi psikolojik danışmaya yönelik olumlu deneyimler bildirmiştir. 

Keywords

Çevrimiçi psikolojik danışma, Yüz yüze psikolojik danışma, Danışan memnuniyeti, Terapötik işbirliği.

Project Number

115K429

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