TITLE:
Lived Experiences of Counselors on Online Counseling
AUTHORS:
Paul John G. Flores, Teresita T. Rungduin
KEYWORDS:
College Counseling, Mental Health Services During Pandemic, Online Counseling Services
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.12 No.11,
November
15,
2024
ABSTRACT: How do mental health professionals thrive in their practice of counseling during the pandemic? The study explored the lived experiences of counselors in conducting online counseling and the emerging practices and processes applied to their conduct of the services. Using the phenomenological research design, the narratives of seven counseling practitioners who are conducting online counseling for at least three months and working in a tertiary institution in Metro Manila were examined in the study. In this phenomenological study, the focus is the phenomena of counselors doing online counseling services concerning their issues and concerns, and the counseling strategies and techniques that they used in facilitating the helping process among their clients. Their worldviews were examined to explore what counseling framework they developed during the pandemic and how this had been changing as they tackle various student problems. It presented specific counseling strategies they believe worked in counseling sessions aimed at addressing pandemic and non-pandemic related problems. Results showed that the issues and concerns of counselors engaging in online counseling are determined by the limitations of online counseling in responding to the needs of their clients. Counselors demonstrated professional responsibility and accountability by initiating protocols and procedures in online counseling and contextualizing counseling services for their clients. Counselors adapted to the limitations of online counseling by taking advantage of the accessibility of online platforms for counseling and using the essential helping skills in facilitating their professional duties and responsibilities. However, professional boundary concerns are evident in their pursuit of providing committed, compassionate, and competent mental health services to their clients. Finally, the counseling framework for online counseling can be achieved by combining three critical features namely the practical coping strategies, counseling protocol, and essential helping skills. Implications for counseling and education practice were discussed.