Alchemists on Screen: Crafting Creative Practices in Online Counseling

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 79, 872 - 889, 29.12.2025

Funda Barutçu Yıldırım , Metin Pulat , Gizem Ekici

https://doi.org/10.17066/tpdrd.1587090

Abstract

Online counseling (OC), which had existed for years but was not widely trusted by mental health professionals and clients, gained widespread acceptance during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the necessity of remote services. Now, it has become indispensable due to its advantages despite its limitations. OC has yet to be studied much and is a phenomenon that can be investigated from different perspectives. This phenomenological study aimed to examine the dynamics of creativity and OC comprehensively. The sample, recruited by purposive sampling, included five female and four male counselors highly experienced in face-to-face and OC. Data were collected with semi-structured interviews recorded with the permission of the participants. After the verbatim transcription, data were analyzed using content analysis. According to the results, emerging themes included fostering creativity, barriers to creativity, advantages of OC, disadvantages of OC, recommendations, and potential creative interventions. These themes indicate that counselors face both challenges and chances to be creative in OC, where the technological environment can restrict but also inspire innovative practices. Findings incorporating the fundamental principles of creativity with the changing dynamics of OC were discussed. This research serves as a valuable resource for mental health professionals seeking to improve their strategies for promoting creativity and optimizing the efficacy of online therapeutic practices.

Keywords

online counseling , creativity , phenomenological study , therapeutic practices , counselor experiences

References

• Alleman, J. R. (2002). Online counseling: The internet and mental health treatment. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 39(2), 199-209. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.39.2.199
• Amabile, T. (2011). Componential theory of creativity (pp. 538–559). Harvard Business School.
• Amabile, T. M., & Pillemer, J. (2012). Perspectives on the social psychology of creativity. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 46(1), 3–15.
• Bolton, C. A., Thompson, H., Spring, J. A., & Frick, M. H. (2021). Innovative play-based strategies for teletherapy. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2021.2011814
• Buyruk Genç, A., Amanvermez, Y., Zeren, Ş. G., & Erus, S. M. (2019). Early separations: Dropout from online and face-to-face counseling. Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction, 9(4), 1001-1030. https://doi.org/10.14527/pegegog.2019.032
• Carson, D. K., & Becker, K. W. (2004). When lightning strikes: Reexamining creativity in psychotherapy. Journal of Counseling & Development, 82(1), 111–115. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2004.tb00292.x
• Carson, D. K., Becker, K. W., Vance, K. E., & Forth, N. L. (2003). The role of creativity in marriage and family therapy practice: A national online study. Contemporary Family Therapy, 25(1), 89–109. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022562122420
• Centore, A. J., & Milacci, F. (2008). A study of mental health counselors' use of and perspectives on distance counseling. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 30(3), 267-282. https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.30.3.q871r684n863u75r
• Chester, A., & Glass, C. A. (2006). Online counselling: A descriptive analysis of therapy services on the internet. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 34(2), 145–160. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069880600583170
• Davis, G. A. (1999). Barriers to creativity and creative attitudes. Encyclopedia of Creativity, 1, 165–174.
• Duffey, T., Haberstroh, S., & Trepal, H. (2009). A grounded theory of relational competencies and creativity in counseling: Beginning the dialogue. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 4(2), 89–112. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401380902951911
• Gladding, S. T. (2011). Using creativity and the creative arts in counseling: An international approach. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 4(35), 1–7. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/tpdrd/issue/21455/229785
• Gladding, S. T. (2008). The impact of creativity in counseling. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 3(2), 97–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401380802226679
• Glaveanu, V. P., Hanchett Hanson, M., Baer, J., Barbot, B., Clapp, E. P., Corazza, G. E., ... & Sternberg, R. J. (2020). Advancing creativity theory and research: A socio‐cultural manifesto. The Journal of Creative Behavior, 54(3), 741–745. https://doi.org/10.1002/jocb.395
• Gutterman, D., & Aafjes-Van Doorn, K. (2022). An exploration of the intersection between creativity and psychotherapy. Creativity Research Journal, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2022.2127566
• Hecker, L. L., & Kottler, J. A. (2002). Growing creative therapists: Introduction to the special issue. Journal of Clinical Activities, Assignments & Handouts in Psychotherapy Practice, 2(2), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1300/J182v02n02_01
• Heiden‐Rootes, K., Ferber, M., Meyer, D., Zubatsky, M., & Wittenborn, A. (2021). Relational teletherapy experiences of couple and family therapy trainees: “Reading the room,” exhaustion, and the comforts of home. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 47(2), 342–358. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12486
• Khan, S., Shapka, J. D., & Domene, J. F. (2022). Counsellors’ experiences of online therapy. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 50(1), 43–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2021.1885009
• Knott, V., Habota, T., & Mallan, K. (2020). Attitudes of Australian psychologists towards the delivery of therapy via video conferencing technology. Australian Psychologist, 55(6), 606–617. https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12464
• Koçyiğit Özyiğit, M., & Erkan Atik, Z. (2021). Covid-19 sürecinde psikolojik danışma ve süpervizyon:# evdekal deneyimi. Başkent University Journal of Education, 8 (1), 253-274.
• Koltz, R. L., & Tarabochia, D. S. (2014). Technology: Using it as a means to creatively connect with adolescents. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 9(3), 380–398. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2014.899481
• Korkmaz, B., & Şen, G. (2018). Psikoterapistlerin çevrimiçi yürütülen psikoterapilere yönelik algılarına ilişkin bir tematik analiz çalışması [A thematic analysis study on psychotherapists’ perceptions of online psychotherapies]. Klinik Psikoloji Dergisi, 2(3), 140-152. http://doi.org/10.31828/kpd2602443829092018m000004
• Lawrence, C., Foster, V. A., & Tieso, C. L. (2015). Creating creative clinicians: Incorporating creativity into counselor education. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 10(2), 166–180. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2014.963188
• Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Sage Publications.
• Mallen, M. J., & Vogel, D. L. (2005). Introduction to the major contribution: Counseling psychology and online counseling. The Counseling Psychologist, 33(6), 761-775. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000005278623
• Mallen, M., J., Jenkins, I. M., Vogel, D. L., & Day, S. X. (2011). Online counselling: An initial examination of the process in a synchronous chat environment. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 11(3), 220–227. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733145.2010.486865
• McGhee, C., Baltrinic, E. R., Laux, J., Clark, M., Liu, Y., & Harmening, D. (2019). A phenomenological investigation of creative teaching in counselor education. Counselor Education and Supervision, 58(2), 127–140. https://doi.org/10.1002/ceas.12136
• Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
• Nagarajan, M., & Yuvaraj S. (2021). Mental health counsellors’ perceptions on use of technology in counselling. Current Psychology, 40(4), 1760–1766. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-0104-4
• O’Connor, C., & Joffe, H. (2020). Intercoder reliability in qualitative research: debates and practical guidelines. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 19, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/1609406919899220
• Ong, T., Wilczewski, H., Soni, H., Nisbet, Q., Paige, S. R., Barrera, J. F., ... & Bunnell, B. E. (2022). The symbiosis of virtual reality exposure therapy and telemental health: A review. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 3. https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2022.848066
• Özcan, G., & Ümmet, D. (2023). A phenomenological research on creativity in the psychological counseling process. Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal, 13(68), 48–60. https://doi.org/10.17066/tpdrd.1272467g
• Richards, D., & Viganó, N. (2013). Online counseling: A narrative and critical review of the literature. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 69(9), 994–1011. http://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.21974.
• Rouse, A., Armstrong, J., & McLeod, J. (2015). Enabling connections: Counsellor creativity and therapeutic practice. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 15(3), 171–179. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12019
• Smith, J., & Gillon, E. (2021). Therapists’ experiences of providing online counselling: A qualitative study. Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 21(3), 545–554. https://doi.org/10.1002/capr.12408
• Tanrıkulu, İ. (2009). Counselors-in-training students’ attitudes towards online counseling. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 1(1), 785–788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2009.01.140
• Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Association. (2021). Turkish psychological counseling ethical codes. In İkiz, F. E., Baş A. U., Arslan Ü. (Eds.). (1st Ed.). Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Association Press.
• Vermeire, S., & Van Den Berge, L. (2021). Widening the screen: Playful responses to challenges in online therapy with children and families. Journal of Family Therapy, 43(2), 329–345. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12326
• Walia, C. (2019). A dynamic definition of creativity. Creativity Research Journal, 31(3), 237–247. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2019.1641787
• Woo, H., Dondanville, A., Jang, H., Na, G., & Jang, Y. (2020). A content analysis of the counseling literature on technology integration: American Counseling Association (ACA) counseling journals between 2000 and 2018. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 42(3), 319- 333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-020-09406-w
• Yıldırım, A., & Şimşek, H. (2018). Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri [Qualitative research methods in social sciences]. (11th Ed.). Seçkin Yayıncılık.
• Yıldırım, F. B., Onaylı S., Taşkesen, N. (2022). Online Counseling through the eyes of university students. Journal of Qualitative Research in Education, 36, 86-106. https://doi.org/10.14689/enad.36.1694
• Zack, J.S. (2008). How sturdy is that digital couch? Legal considerations for mental health professionals who deliver clinical services via the internet. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 26(2/4), 333-359. https://doi.org/10.1080/15228830802097083
• Zeren, Ş. G. (2015). Yüz yüze ve çevrimiçi psikolojik danışma: Danışanların sorunları ve memnuniyetleri. Eğitim ve Bilim, 40(182), 127-141. http://dx.doi.org/10.15390/EB.2015.4696
• Zeren, Ş. G. (2017). Therapeutic alliance in face-to-face and online counseling: Opinions of counselor candidates. Journal of Human Sciences, 14(3), 2278-2307. https://www.jhumansciences.com/ojs/index.php/IJHS/article/view/4203