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Cybercounselling - Level 1

Past Course Dates: April 4 to May 9, 2002
June 20 to July 25, 2002
September 5 to October 23, 2002
January 10 to February 27, 2003
May 2 to June 19, 2003
Next Course: October 3 to November 20, 2003

Instructors:

Dan L. Mitchell

Dr. Kate Collie

"Cybercounselling - Level 1" is a course designed for experienced counselling practitioners who want to develop or deepen their online counselling skills and professionalism. The course is highly interactive and personal. Online group and dyadic processes are used so that the entire course is a forum to practise text-based communication skills. Participants from around the world will study and discuss assigned readings, learn about and use secure e-mail technology, practise a diverse range of therapeutic communication skills and tools, engage in role-play, and receive supervision.

The course employs a "practitioner-researcher" model and covers the three areas that are essential to the provision of a professional, ethical, and effective e-mail counselling service:
  • Text-based communication and counselling skills
  • Ethical issues
  • Technological issues and skills
Visual Images in Cybercounselling!

Participants will have the opportunity to experience and explore the use of visual tools in cybercounselling. We are very pleased that internationally recognized online art therapy researcher, Kate Collie, will facilitate this session.

Assignments are given on a weekly basis. Individuals complete their course work in an asynchronous manner. Because of this, participants can fit the course work into their individual schedules to complete each session's assignments within specified deadlines. Participants who have plans to travel while the course is underway will be able to continue their participation, as long as they have Internet access.

The work load involves approximately five to seven hours of work per week (for a course total of 35 to 49 hours).

Learning Goals and Expected Outcomes:

Participants who complete the course will be able to
  1. Use e-mail encryption technology, including encrypted attachments, in professional counselling relationships (both individuals and groups)
  2. Use online client registration and tracking tools
  3. Demonstrate, in simulated online counselling relationships, effective use of at least five counselling skills that are unique to text-only cyberspace
  4. Provide resolutions for at least three ethical issues that are unique to asynchronous online counselling
  5. Critique or comment on at least two theoretical or practical issues that are unique to online counselling relationships
  6. Explain to a simulated online client at least eight unique characteristics of online counselling (i.e., client orientation to online counselling)
  7. Demonstrate, with a simulated client, the use of the practitioner-researcher approach to evaluating the online counselling process
  8. Demonstrate, with a fellow participant, the use of visual imagery to deepen an online relationship
  9. Evaluate his/her level of preparedness to deliver online counselling in his/her current counselling practice

Participant Feedback:

"You [the facilitators] were wonderful. The layout is clear and sequential. I found it a blessing to have such structure.... I appreciate the way that I can 'hear' your voice in your instructions."
- Victoria, China

"There is nothing that I can think of that I had hoped we would learn but didn't. I was most interested in learning clinical skills. I believe that I got that and much more."
- Peter, Ontario

"I would describe your style as gentle and respectful. I believe that you helped us identify our strengths and gently made us aware of areas that you thought might be good for us to consider changing...
I found the 'role modeling' that Dan did throughout the course to be very helpful for learning the use of text emotionality; also the eSupervision and comments were nicely handled and delivered."
- Mary, British Columbia

Experiential Learning Activities:

Participants will

  • continually practise online text-only communication and relationship building skills in their interactions with other participants and the facilitators
  • provide online counselling via role-play
  • use the PrivacEmail Professional system, including many of its features, in their interactions with other participants and the facilitators
  • receive feedback from peers and facilitators, as well as one-to-one eSupervisionTM

Course Prerequisites:

  • A Master's degree in counselling or a related field;
  • 3 years of experience delivering in-person counselling;
    • (or an equivalent of the above);
  • Comfort with, and extensive experience using a computer with at least the last 2 years using e-mail and the internet;
  • Membership in a professional association and adherence to their ethical code.

Continuing Education Credits Available:

Continuing Education Unit credits are available from the Canadian Counselling Association.

"I am using cybercounselling skills with my face to face clients who I see in my day job, and when keeping in touch with former clients. It has professionialized the way I contact them - I never take anything lightly, or dash off an email anymore!"
- Mary Lynn, Toronto
Minimum Hardware and Software Requirements:
  • Pentium 200 MHz computer (faster is recommended)
  • with a 56k modem (faster is recommended)
  • Windows operating system
  • Internet Explorer 5.5 or 6.x
  • Microsoft Word97 or later version
  • Up to date anti-virus software
Tuition:  
Early Bird (single) $455 CAD
Early Bird (group of two or more) $425 CAD
To qualify for early bird rates, payment must be received at least 14 days prior to the course start date. Add $40 to quoted rates after the early bird deadline.


Fees are payable in Canadian dollars.
7% Goods and Services Tax will be applied.

To convert your currency to Canadian dollars,
use the XE.com Personal Currency Assistant.
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Registration:

This course is limited to 5 participants.
To register: download, complete, and email the registration form to Dan Mitchell.

Click here to download registration form.

Questions?

Please contact one of the course facilitators:

E-mail Dan Mitchell at mitchell@therapyonline.ca

or Lawrence Murphy at research@sympatico.ca

or call 604-984-2393 (Vancouver)
or 1-888-437-2794 (toll free).