This week's assignment was to utilize the telephone, text messaging, and Skype services to get a sense of the feelings associated with using such technology. Today, I'll reflect over my impression after I used each method, including the pros and cons of using each method, and in what situations would each device be more useful.
Let us begin with text messaging. Acting with a partner, I was played the role of both a counselor and a client. As my partner and I began texting, it became quickly apparent that we were going to have to be mindful of not texting back to back because that lead to confusion. There were times where my counselor might make three different statements and as I replying to the first, the second came, and shortly afterwards the third one. It also was hard, as the counselor, to gauge the level of emotion that my "client" was expressing to me. I felt restricted and limited in the services I could provide because there was no way of knowing what my client needed emotionally. As the client, I felt as though I was texting a friend. I didn't feel that there was a professional relationship. After we completed the role plays we discussed our thoughts about this method of counseling. Although there were some noted advantages to texting, we both agreed that texting would not be the ideal use of technology. One aversion to texting is that the client has direct, constant access to the therapist. Can the client text any time of the day or only during business hours? Are texts chargeable, and if so how? What matters can be discussed via text? These were some of the questions that were discussed by my partner and I. On the other hand, if someone was in immediate danger and was unable to go seek help, the use of texting might be useful. Example being a child who is witnessing domestic violence among parents and is unable to call someone but has a cell phone with texting would be able to contact his/her counselor and seek help that way. These are just some of the observations that were made during our role play.
Nest we conversed over the phone. Although this was a better technique, there were still some limitations that arose. Since we could now hear each other my partner and I were able to gauge each other's level of discomfort when we role played. It was also easier to build rapport with the client. As a counselor it was easier to express empathy, validation, and other verbal words of affirmation through influx or changes in voice tone. Conversation was also easier to flow over the telephone as opposed to texting. My partner and I noticed that the relationship was more professional when we were speaking on the phone. Although we enjoyed the phone session, we were still weary of using this method. We decided that counseling clients with depression, anxiety, or similar mental health issues might fair better over the phone than clients with sever psychiatric mental health issues. Telephone calling would be good to ease the worry clients might experience in between counseling session. Similar to texting, phone counseling would be used with the intent to have the client come into the office to receive in person interviews.
Lastly we'll discuss Skype. Of all the methods to use, Skype was the most in-person like method therefore was favored between my partner and I. Using this technology allowed for the therapist to see and hear from the client thus allowing the counselor to notice the non-verbal quest that the client may display. Also Skype allows for free calls to others with Skype accounts, although may companies come with unlimited services, the option to use Skype becomes more appealing. Even in its greatness, one limitation of Skype is that it only provides the counselor with a section of the client's body therefore preventing the counselor from being able to see other non-verbals from the client. Skype, like in person sessions, prevents the counselor from "zoning out" while the client is talking or texting.
Overall there are some good and bad to all three technological methods that were utilized. Each method of communication may be beneficial in counseling if used in the proper context. One important concept that was hard to address during all scenarios was confidentiality. How can confidentiality be discussed, achieved, and maintained through texting, phone calling, or Skyping? By clicking on this link, you'll be directed to HIPPA regulations and considerations on counseling and confidentiality, while using technology.
No comments:
Post a Comment