Course Programme

Within the password-protected members area are the discussion boards, links to course websites, links to required and further reading and the netiquette resource pages. Also available from here is the member's administration system.

In general, trainees are expected to use the moderated discussion boards for contact with the trainer and each other, and to abide by some discussion board rules. Appropriate attire is jeans, t-shirts, and casual shoes. No starched shirts, ties, dress pumps, or black-bottom dress shoes are allowed. No insulting other members. Insulting yourself is permitted :o)

Threads are provided for:

• Networking
  
• Online Therapy Issues
  
• Course Issues
  
• Technical Support
  
• The Online Therapy Network

More threads can be created on request as necessary.

Organisations often find it useful to have their own private thread for discussion of issues relevent only to their own staff. The provision of such threads is offered at no extra charge where block booking arrangements have been made.

Week One - The Online Relationship

On completion of this week, trainees will have an understanding of how a relationship is developed online, through learning about core concepts such as Linguistic Rapport, Quality Effects of Written Communication (netiquette), Online Disinhibition Effect, Presence, Identity Management, Black-Hole Experiences.

Trainees are expected to read set papers and experience some of these concepts and respond to set questions to demonstrate their understanding of them.

Week Two - The Online Therapeutic Relationship

On completion of week two, trainees will have an understanding of how the Online Relationship can become therapeutic, through learning about core concepts such as Client-Counsellor Fantasy (sidestepping physical bias), the importance of Anonymity, Role-playing, Acting-out, Self-reflection, reading-between-the-lines, & Empowerment of the Client.

Trainees are expected to read set papers and experience some of these concepts and respond to set questions to demonstrate their understanding of them.

Week Three - Ethical Considerations

On completion of week three, trainees will have an understanding of some of the ethical dilemmas in assessing and accepting Online clients, and how to deal with clients who wish to continue online in the face of being considered unsuitable. Other core concepts are boundary issues, confidentiality, encryption, virus protection and contracts. The ethical study will be on an international basis.

Trainees are expected to read set papers, consider the points they raise and respond to set questions to demonstrate their understanding. Trainees are also expected to purchase the BACP Guidelines for Online Counselling and Psychotherapy as a benchmark of Ethical standards.

Week Four - working with email

Within this week, you will have access to three client emails. These are not designed to be a test, but rather to give you a comprehensive grounding in what email work is like. You are requested to write a response to the client using what you have learnt so far in the course, which is then considered by the trainer with feedback given to you. Responses to client emails are highly individualistic and trainees are encouraged to share their thoughts and learning on the discussion boards.

Week Five - working with Internet Relay Chat

Within this week, you are expected to watch and consider two actual client/therapist IRC sessions using the interactive training system. Your practical experience here will be via a system of questions about the session and your own contribution as to how you feel the therapeutic relationship is developing and what the therapeutic process is within the session.

Week Six - Bringing it all together

The final week's coursework is completion of a Personal Learning Statement (guidelines supplied) to demonstrate what you have learnt on the course and illustrate your understanding of Online Therapy and Communication in Cyberspace. All the notes and thoughts you have logged onto the interactive system will be available to you for this task.

On completion of the Personal Learning Statement, you will be awarded a certificate from onlinecounsellors.co.uk to acknowledge your continued professional development within your field. You will also be sent an onlinecounsellors.co.uk verification logo to verify your completed training, which you can then upload to your own website.