Theories of Counseling: Computer Assisted Therapy

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

History

 It is hypothesized that in the 21 st century, computers will be used as therapeutic assistants and possibly as the primary therapeutic agent.

 ELIZA: A computer that was programmed to give Rogerian responses to clients.

 PLATO: A system that generates strategies to deal with dilemmas and gives clients feedback as to their solutions.

 The prevalence of cognitive theories are adaptable for some computer programming.

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

History (continued)

 Solution Focused Brief Therapy: Gingerich and de Shazer have developed a computer program to aid counselors called Briefer I and Briefer II.

 Computer advances that have facilitated using computers for counseling: Increased memory to sustain complex programs, use of the Internet and virtual reality.

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

Theory of Personality

 Counseling computers do not have theories of counseling.

 However, cognitive-behavioral theories seem to work best in computer programming whereas psychoanalytic works least well.

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

Nature of Maladjustment

 Computers are limited in their ability to deal with: relationship exploration, adjustment problems, and situational, cognitive based problems such as phobias or depression.

 Virtual reality has some usefulness in these areas but is still limited in its scope.

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

Major Concepts

 Integrating Metaphorical Systems: Psychotherapy is best represented by metaphors (e.g. psychoanalytic has literary metaphors, humanistic therapies have personal and idealistic metaphors).

 What is an Intelligent Mind?  Mentalist Theory: The mind is everything and is a spiritual entity.

 Materialist Theory: The mind is just a physical process.

 The Dualist Theory: The mind is separate from the body.

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

The Counseling Process

 Computer therapy can help people who live to far away from counseling services or those who can not afford traditional therapy.

 Online and computer counseling is available 24-hours per day.

 Computers can be programmed to “do no harm” and make referrals when needed.

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

The Counseling Process (continued)

 There are specific ethical codes that govern computer use, written by the American Psychological Association and the American Counseling Association.

 The computer counselor cannot FEEL but people can project their own feeling onto it.

 The computer counselor is perpetually patient and can guide the client to practice new skills and behaviors without tiring.

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

The Counseling Process (continued)

 The computer does not participate in countertransference.

 The computer counselor is an expert. Therapeutic responses, as well as treatment plans, can be programmed into it.

 The computer can be individually tailored to the client’s needs.

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

The Counseling Process (continued)

 Computer counseling is infinitely less expensive then human counseling and therefore more accessible to more people.

 The computer counselor is never sick or on vacation.

 The computer cannot pick up on nonverbal communication or subtlety but this may changed with future technological advances. “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

The Counseling Process (continued)

 Emotional Bracketing: Used in cybercounseling or computer counseling to display underlying emotion. “Okay, I get it now [Relieved].” “Good, you had me going there for a minute [Worried].”  Descriptive Immediacy: This is a description of what is going on physically, emotionally and cognitively with the client and uses language that simulates a face-to face encounter. “Great! You did it! If I could smile at you right now I would.” “Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”

Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

The Counseling Process (continued)

 Case Sensitive Writing, Pseudo-Words, Spacing and Emoticons:  Attends not only to what is written but also how it is written by looking at font size, style, spacing, grammar etc.

 Emoticons: Keyboard symbols that when turned sideways look like facial expressions e.g. ; ) or : ) and some computers will take the last one and turn it into  .

 One benefit of the Internet is the abundance of chat room support groups available on just about any condition, issue or disorder.

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

The Counseling Process (continued)

 Currently, computer counseling can only achieve what has been written into the computer code.

 Some people may be put off by computer counseling while others will thrive on it. Usually, it is a generational phenomenon. Older people dislike it and younger people love it.

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

Advantages of Computer-Assisted Therapy or Cybercounseling

 Relieves the human therapist of many tedious tasks such as taking a history, diagnosis, and case management or follow-up.

 It can help the human therapist confirm his or her diagnosis.

 The computer can handle many clients at the same time.

 The computer could free up valuable time for the human therapist.

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

Advantages of Computer-Assisted Therapy or Cybercounseling (continued)

 The computer could field crisis calls and alert a human therapist or 911.

 It can be a simulator to train new therapists.

 Using virtual reality has real benefit in working with client’s with phobias.

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

Disadvantages of Computer-Assisted Therapy or Cybercounseling

 There is still a debate regarding ethical problems associated with using computers in counseling.

 Confidentiality is harder to ensure online or on hard drives.

 There has not been enough research done on computer counseling or counseling programs to ascertain validity of such programs.

 There is no way to ascertain the credentials of the online therapist.

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

of Computer-Assisted Therapy or Cybercounseling (continued)

 It has not yet been determined in what ways liability and malpractice will be extended to Internet or cybercounseling.

 Computer programs and computer counseling has not advanced far enough to view people phenomenologically.  Human touch cannot be given by a computer.

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Computer-Assisted Therapy Cybercounseling

Computer-Assisted Therapy or Cybercounseling with Diverse Populations.

 Cybercounseling or computer assisted counseling has tremendous advantages for people living in remote areas, for those who cannot afford traditional therapy or have physical disabilities that make it hard to travel.

 It may make counseling easier for shy people, for people who feel their problem is socially unacceptable because the computer is nonjudgmental and nonthreatening.

 It may not be as readily available in all cultures. Anglo-Americans are more likely than any other culture to own a computer.

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Resources

Ivey, A. E., D’Andrea, M., Ivey, M. B. and Morgan, L. S. (2002). Theories of counseling and psychotherapy: A multicultural perspective, 5 th ed. Boston, MA.: Allyn & Bacon.

James, R. K. & Gilliland, B. E. (2003). Theories and strategies in counseling and psychotherapy, 5 th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Kottler, J. A. (2002). Theories in counseling and therapy: An experiential approach. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

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