Online Counseling: A Handbook for Mental Health Professionals

Online Counseling gives practical insight into how professionals can translate and extend their practice to the electronic online medium. The volume provides an overview of current research on the use and effectiveness of counseling online and data on the idiosyncrasies of online behavior and communication. The practical aspects of and skill sets required for counseling online are discussed at length, as are technological, ethical, legal and multicultural issues, treatment strategies, and testing and assessment.

Foreword by Morgan Sammons and Patrick DeLeon, past president of the American Psychological AssociationThe first comprehensive textbook designed to give clinicians and mental health students everything they need to understand and start providing mental health services via the InternetEach chapter includes study questions and key terms, making it ideal for use in graduate or continuing education settingsIncludes clear and comprehensive chapters on research and technology related to online counselingContributors include past, present, and elected presidents of the International Society for Mental Health Online (ISMHO), the Inernet's leading resource for professionals interested in online counseling and other methods of delivering mental health services via the Internet

Forward P.DeLeon Introduction Ron Kraus and George Stricker

Part I: The New Medium: History and Research 1. Online behavior, communication and Experience Michael Fenichel 2. The psychology of text relationships John Suler 3. Online Counseling– Does It Work? Research Findings to Date Ron Kraus

Part II: Practical Aspects of Online Counseling 4. The technology of online counseling Jason Zack 5. Ethical Issues in Online Counseling Ron Kraus 6. Legal Issues for Online Counselors Jason Zack 7. The Business of Online Counseling Ron Kraus

Part III:  Clinical Skills for Online Counseling 8. Text-based Online Counseling: Email John Yaphe and Cedric Speyer 9. Text-based online counseling: chat DeeAnna Merz Nagel and Kate Anthony 10. Online Counseling Groups: Theory and Practice Yvette Colon and  Stephanie Stern 11. Clinical work with groups online - practical aspects Beth Pector and Robert C. Hsiung 12. Internet-Supported Psychological Testing and Assessment Azy Barak 13. International and Multicultural Issues Adrian G. Skinner and Gary Latchford

Part IV: A Look in to the Future of Online Counseling 14. Ethical Issues in Online Counseling Ron Kraus