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

ZEREN Ş. G., ERUS S. M., Amanvermez Y., Genc A. B. U. Y. R. U. K., DUY B.

CUKUROVA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF EDUCATION JOURNAL, cilt.51, sa.1, ss.634-658, 2022 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 51 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2022
  • Doi Numarası: 10.14812/cufej.843542
  • Dergi Adı: CUKUROVA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF EDUCATION JOURNAL
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.634-658
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Online counseling, Face-to-face counseling, Clients' satisfaction, Therapeutic alliance, FACE-TO-FACE, VIDEOCONFERENCING PSYCHOTHERAPY, WORKING ALLIANCE, INTERNET, PERSPECTIVES, DEPRESSION, ATTITUDES, SERVICES
  • Anadolu Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

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.