Online counselling, therapy and dispute resolution

• Elly Robinson
• Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse

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20 October 2009This report outlines a range of benefits and challenges related to online therapy.

Studies evaluating the effectiveness of online therapy have emerged in recent years, indicating that treatment programs are largely effective, particularly for anxiety, stress and depression. There are still many questions, however, regarding the right mix of online programs and face-to-face therapy, how it is best delivered and under what circumstances people will benefit.

Online provision of services shows promise for dispute resolution, with implications for separating families, but research is in its infancy. The paper concludes that online therapy has potential for use in family relationship services, either as an adjunct to face-to-face services or as an intervention in its own right, but ongoing and quality evaluation of such programs is needed.