Theories of Counseling:
Computer Assisted Therapy
PowerPoint produced by Melinda Haley, M.S., New Mexico State University.
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Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
History
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It is hypothesized that in the 21st century, computers will be used as
therapeutic assistants and possibly as the primary therapeutic agent.
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ELIZA: A computer that was programmed to give Rogerian responses to
clients.
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PLATO: A system that generates strategies to deal with dilemmas and
gives clients feedback as to their solutions.
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The prevalence of cognitive theories are adaptable for some computer
programming.
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Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
History (continued)
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Solution Focused Brief Therapy: Gingerich and de Shazer have
developed a computer program to aid counselors called Briefer I and
Briefer II.
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Computer advances that have facilitated using computers for counseling:
Increased memory to sustain complex programs, use of the Internet and
virtual reality.
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Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
Theory of Personality
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Counseling computers do not have theories of counseling.
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However, cognitive-behavioral theories seem to work best in computer
programming whereas psychoanalytic works least well.
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Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
Nature of Maladjustment
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Computers are limited in their ability to deal with: relationship exploration,
adjustment problems, and situational, cognitive based problems such as
phobias or depression.
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Virtual reality has some usefulness in these areas but is still limited in its
scope.
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Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
Major Concepts
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Integrating Metaphorical Systems: Psychotherapy is best represented by
metaphors (e.g. psychoanalytic has literary metaphors, humanistic
therapies have personal and idealistic metaphors).
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What is an Intelligent Mind?
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Mentalist Theory: The mind is everything and is a spiritual entity.
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Materialist Theory: The mind is just a physical process.
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The Dualist Theory: The mind is separate from the body.
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Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
The Counseling Process
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Computer therapy can help people who live to far away from counseling
services or those who can not afford traditional therapy.
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Online and computer counseling is available 24-hours per day.
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Computers can be programmed to “do no harm” and make referrals when
needed.
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Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
The Counseling Process (continued)
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There are specific ethical codes that govern computer use, written by the
American Psychological Association and the American Counseling
Association.
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The computer counselor cannot FEEL but people can project their own
feeling onto it.
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The computer counselor is perpetually patient and can guide the client to
practice new skills and behaviors without tiring.
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Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
The Counseling Process (continued)
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The computer does not participate in countertransference.
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The computer counselor is an expert. Therapeutic responses, as well as
treatment plans, can be programmed into it.
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The computer can be individually tailored to the client’s needs.
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Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
The Counseling Process (continued)
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Computer counseling is infinitely less expensive then human counseling
and therefore more accessible to more people.
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The computer counselor is never sick or on vacation.
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The computer cannot pick up on nonverbal communication or subtlety but
this may changed with future technological advances.
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Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
The Counseling Process (continued)
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Emotional Bracketing: Used in cybercounseling or computer counseling
to display underlying emotion. “Okay, I get it now [Relieved].” “Good, you
had me going there for a minute [Worried].”
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Descriptive Immediacy: This is a description of what is going on
physically, emotionally and cognitively with the client and uses language
that simulates a face-to-face encounter. “Great! You did it! If I could
smile at you right now I would.”
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Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
The Counseling Process (continued)
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Case Sensitive Writing, Pseudo-Words, Spacing and Emoticons:
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Attends not only to what is written but also how it is written by looking
at font size, style, spacing, grammar etc.
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Emoticons: Keyboard symbols that when turned sideways look like
facial expressions e.g. ; ) or : ) and some computers will take the
last one and turn it into  .
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One benefit of the Internet is the abundance of chat room support groups
available on just about any condition, issue or disorder.
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Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
The Counseling Process (continued)
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Currently, computer counseling can only achieve what has been written
into the computer code.
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Some people may be put off by computer counseling while others will
thrive on it. Usually, it is a generational phenomenon. Older people
dislike it and younger people love it.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
Advantages of Computer-Assisted Therapy or Cybercounseling
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Relieves the human therapist of many tedious tasks such as taking a
history, diagnosis, and case management or follow-up.
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It can help the human therapist confirm his or her diagnosis.
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The computer can handle many clients at the same time.
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The computer could free up valuable time for the human therapist.
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Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
Advantages of Computer-Assisted Therapy or Cybercounseling
(continued)
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The computer could field crisis calls and alert a human therapist or 911.
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It can be a simulator to train new therapists.
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Using virtual reality has real benefit in working with client’s with phobias.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
Disadvantages of Computer-Assisted Therapy or Cybercounseling
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There is still a debate regarding ethical problems associated with using
computers in counseling.
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Confidentiality is harder to ensure online or on hard drives.
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There has not been enough research done on computer counseling or
counseling programs to ascertain validity of such programs.
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There is no way to ascertain the credentials of the online therapist.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
of Computer-Assisted Therapy or
Cybercounseling (continued)
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It has not yet been determined in what ways liability and
malpractice will be extended to Internet or cybercounseling.
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Computer programs and computer counseling has not advanced
far enough to view people phenomenologically.
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Human touch cannot be given by a computer.
“Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2004”
Computer-Assisted Therapy
Cybercounseling
Computer-Assisted Therapy or Cybercounseling with Diverse Populations.
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Cybercounseling or computer assisted counseling has tremendous
advantages for people living in remote areas, for those who cannot
afford traditional therapy or have physical disabilities that make it
hard to travel.
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It may make counseling easier for shy people, for people who feel
their problem is socially unacceptable because the computer is
nonjudgmental and nonthreatening.
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It may not be as readily available in all cultures. Anglo-Americans
are more likely than any other culture to own a computer.
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Resources
Ivey, A. E., D’Andrea, M., Ivey, M. B. and Morgan, L. S. (2002). Theories of counseling
and psychotherapy: A multicultural perspective, 5th ed. Boston, MA.: Allyn &
Bacon.
James, R. K. & Gilliland, B. E. (2003). Theories and strategies in counseling and
psychotherapy, 5th ed. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Kottler, J. A. (2002). Theories in counseling and therapy: An experiential approach.
Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
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