APACS national Conference Adelaide 27-29 September 2015

APACS national Conference Adelaide 27-29 September 2015 Dr Mary McMahon School of Education The University of Queensland Dr Kevin Glasheen School of Cultural & Professional Learning Queensland University of Technology

Context Perceptions of school counsellors, students and principals Barriers to the use of technology Supporting school counsellors Conclusion Prof Marilyn Campbell Dr Kevin Glasheen Dr Mary McMahon Prof Ian Shochet Prof Debra Rickwood ARC Linkage partners Learning Place EQ QGCA

Online counselling Mental Health and young people Importance of online technology Online counselling within the secondary school Impact on educational outcomes and wellbeing School counsellors Help-seeking behaviours of young people

..delivery of therapeutic interventions in cyberspace where the communication between a trained professional counselor and client(s) is facilitated using computer-mediated communication (CMC) technologies provided as a stand-alone service or as an adjunct to other therapeutic interventions (Richards and Vigano, 2012)

What it looks like

A variety of interventions now exist E-spectrum (Rickwood, 2012) Does it work?..therapeutic alliance (Hanley, 2009,2012) Effectiveness at least equal to face-to-face counselling (Barak, et al.,2008) Less threatening provides emotional safety zone (King, et al., 2006) Makes positive use of disinhibition effect (Suler, 2005) Can enhance subsequent face-to-face interactions (Dietz-Uhler & Bishop-Clark, 2001) It is a reality (Richards & Vigano, 2013)

Focus groups students (n=28) & school counsellors (n=14) Semi-structured interviews of principals (n=4) Online surveys Students(n=215: F=52%;M=48%), School counsellors (n=210: F=72%;M=28%), Principals (n=30) Online surveys Counsellor Survey: 7 Sections 39 items (Demographics plus statements rated on 5 point Likert scale) plus 2 qualitative questions. Principal Survey: Similar to Counsellor plus section on concerns & preparedness to support school counsellor to implement service. Student Survey: 7 Sections 36 items plus DASS21 Training and supervision of counsellors Pre/post survey Semi-structured interviews

Young people not seeking help for mental health Would secondary school students use online counselling? Which students would use online counselling Students in secondary schools Role of communication technologies Why not use online counselling in the secondary school Why do school counsellors not offer online counselling? Role of school counsellors

I think.some don t know their sexuality Sensitive Issues Accessibility It depends on how private you can get in your own home I guess Trust Teenagers have lots of trust issues they don t trust anyone. Some people are too scared to say it face-toface it s easier to type it. Confidentiality It depends on what type of personality you have! Individual preference

Fear of litigation Perceived lack of skills Will there be enough computers? Accessibility I am such a slow typist. What if they say they are going to kill themselves whe re do we stand legally? Boundaries Will they be able to contact me anytime? Suspicion of the technology The principal would want you to deal with a real person instead of someone online But will it be effective? Beliefs about efficacy

Counsellors doubted effectiveness and would limit discussion Students saw it as a liberating tool that provided safeguards against emotional vulnerability Counsellors feared litigation implications Students accepted limitations of technology

Further reading about focus groups of students and counsellors Glasheen, K.J., Campbell, M.A. & Shochet, I. (2015). School counsellors and students attitudes to online counselling: A qualitative study. Journal of Relationships Research,6, 1-10. doi:10.1017/jrr.2015.8

Would secondary students use online counselling? If online counselling with the school guidance counsellor/guidance officer was available, and you needed to contact them, would you use this online service? Demographics -Year level; Gender; Past counselling. DASS 21 Technology use Scenario help seeking behaviours Requirements for chat platform Issues - Online or face-to-face preference definitely prefer online(1); maybe prefer online(2); either(3); maybe prefer face-to-face(4); definitely prefer face-to-face(5).

No significant difference in gender No significant difference in prior counselling experience (Females 48.6%; Males 21.6%) Difference year level- Yr 8 and Yr 12 - Why? Cumulative percentage of 80% females & 84% males might or would use online counselling if available 94.5% with moderate to severe indicators of depression may or would use online counselling 96% with moderate to high indicators of stress would use online counselling

Concerns about sexuality Conflict at home Worrying thoughts or feeling Conflict with other students Bullying at school Cyberbullying Advice about helping a friend To have someone to listen to me Study or school work Help with career

Further reading about students intention to use online counselling in schools Glasheen, K.J., Shochet, I. & Campbell, M.A. (2015). Online counselling in secondary schools: Would students use this medium to seek help? British Journal of Guidance & Counselling. doi.10.1080/03069885.2015.1017805

Included concerns raised by principals in interviews. Would they encourage online counselling in the school? Concerns (e.g. parents)

Which factors predict possible use of online counselling? Experience and comfort with technology Beliefs/attitudes about technology Perceptions of student use of online technology Preparedness to provide online counselling within the school setting Level of confidence in aspects of implementation Perceptions of potential student use Demographic details

1. Counsellors expectation of student acceptance 2. Perception of students online behaviour (if they thought they would be truthful online) 3. Confidence to use online counselling (ethical, legal and privacy issues)

Need to hear the research evidence of effectiveness Need further online skill training Need systemic support

Further reading about school counsellors intention to provide online counselling in schools Glasheen, Kevin J., Campbell, Marilyn A., & Shochet, Ian M. (2013). Opportunities and challenges : School guidance counsellors perceptions of counselling students online. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 23(1), 1-14.

School counsellors invited through online discussion group to participate in online training and supervision Offered supervision online to participants Interviews conducted with participants Findings Results are still being processed and will be published at a later time.

Topics included in training package 1: Getting started and background 2: Building skills 3: Building virtual office 4: Online presence 5: Using email 6: Ethics 7: Supervision Topics supported by resources

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