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ISSN : 2233-6710(Print)
ISSN : 2384-2121(Online)
Journal of Asia Pacific Counseling Vol.14 No.2 pp.25-42
DOI : https://doi.org/10.18401/2024.14.2.2

Online Counseling during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Practical Experience from Play Therapists

Yuh-Jen Guo1, Shu-Ching Wang2, Nicole Bloch3
1Department of Counselor, Leadership and Special Education, Auburn University at Montgomery
2Student Counseling and Psychological Services, Auburn University
3Department of Counselor, Leadership and Special Education, Auburn University at Montgomery
Corresponding Author
Yuh-Jen Guo, Auburn University at Montgomery, College of Education, P.O. Box 244023, Montgomery, AL 36124-4023, United States.
Email: yguo1@aum.edu

We acknowledged the funding of GSRAC grant of Auburn University at Montgomery.
We have no known financial conflict and conducted this study under approval of Institutional Review Board.

Abstract

Online counseling became a popular method for delivering counseling services during the COVID-19 pandemic. While traditional face-to-face psychotherapy continues to remain a steady means to offer counseling services, Telemental health is gradually growing with its increase of popularity and clientele. Studying this transition from in-person to online counseling will help augment the preparation of future counselors. Since play therapy requires rich counselor-client interaction, play therapists’ experience during COVID-19 provides insights for the transition to online counseling. This study aimed to explore the benefits and obstacles of practicing counseling online. It utilized a qualitative inquiry to understand the experience of online counseling from the perspective of a group of play therapists. Our outcomes reported both the benefits of accessibility and clients’ comfort at home and the difficulties in technology use and virtual interaction with clients. Counselors can learn from the outcomes to prepare for online counseling and adjust to the different aspects of counseling in a virtual environment.

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