Debate on Emerging Issue: The use of Video and telephoneTherapy - Research Paper Example

Telephone counseling or therapy sessions are given to patients in a wide variety of treatment approaches (National Association of Social Workers, 2007). Social workers may offer telephone counseling for psychological education or as case management on matters that are associated with primary healthcare treatment and diagnosis, such as cancer or diabetes. In such cases, the telephone sessions may be utilized for problem solving, support, and information sharing, instated of mental psychotherapy and diagnosis.

Telehealth and telemedicine necessitates the utilization of designated sites that offer videoconferencing abilities. The process is more advanced than either online therapy or telephone therapy (National Association of Social Workers, 2007). Online asynchronous text-based counseling is the interchange of therapeutic communication between a counselor and a client using electronic mail (Kraus, Stricker, and Speyer, 2010). E-therapy, online or internet is performed with various methods, which have not been fully subjected to rigorous scientific research for their effectiveness.

These entail scheduled electronic chat sessions composed of real time information exchange through structured email exchanges, computer keyboard, and group online chat sittings accessible to authorized group members or open chat sessions governed by the therapist (National Association of Social Workers, 2007). . It is important to state that online relations can have a significant intimacy and intensity, denoted as text-based bonding (Kraus, Stricker, and Speyer, 2010). Most institutions are turning to the current technology such as telephone and online resources to respond to victims of sexual assault (Nicoletti, Spencer, Thomas, and Bollinger, 2010).

Online communication techniques such as survivor chat rooms, web pages, personal blogs, online/email counseling, and information websites can facilitate empowerment and healing for survivors. It can also offer emergency support to persons facing immediate crisis related to sexual violence. The same technological resources can offer services to the conventionally underserved groups such as adolescents and individuals with disabilities. The technology ensures that critical support services are easily accessible to these groups of people (Nicoletti et al., 2010). Practice is ahead of regulation and legislation in the part of electronic therapy services.

Telephone services and in-person client contacts have not been used fully in the past. A number of states have exemptions to licensure requirements that would allow brief contact with patients across the lines of states (such as Wyoming, Montana, and Indiana). The extended utilization of internet in everyday society has put pressure on the boundaries of contemporary uses of information technology outside previous conceptions, as well as new used for outdated technologies like the telephone (National Association of Social Workers, 2007).

Social workers who offer services through electronic means should apply the practice standards present in their profession. This is crucial when making decisions concerning the presentation of their