Counselling Online

Description:

Counselling Online is a free service delivering online text-based counselling to alcohol and other drug (AOD) users, and others affected by alcohol and drug use in the community, including family members, relatives and friends. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for counselling in English, with counselling in Vietnamese available on Monday and Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm. The site provides one-to-one access to professional AOD counselling, using live (synchronous) chat technology. Individuals can use the service anonymously, or can register their details, which allows counsellors to access information from previous sessions and offer continuity in counselling.

Service URL:

http://www.counsellingonline.org.au

Agency Responsible:

Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre.

Details

Format:

Website.

Intervention Type:

Other. Provides professional counselling

Course Length:

Short (less than 1 module or equivalent). There are no restrictions on the number of times an individual can access the site

Support Option:

Clinical support. Provided through real-time online counselling

Target Audience

Primary Category:

Substance abuse.

Secondary Category:

Alcohol.

Target Audience:

Adult.

Language:

English. Also available in Vietnamese

Access

Fee:

Free.

Access:

Open: No registration required.

Contact Details:

CounsellingOnline@turningpoint.org.au

Research evidence

Research Trials:

0

Research RCTs:

0

Outcome Summary:

The effectiveness of CounsellingOnline is not yet known. A study evaluating access to the service showed enhanced AOD service accessibility through the service's responsiveness, high level of after-hours service utilisation, and appeal to a client group that differs from those seen in conventional and telephone AOD counselling services. CounsellingOnline has the capacity to enhance accessibility to AOD counselling, particularly for clients whose access to conventional treatment services is limited. How the counselling delivered through CounsellingOnline compares to that delivered through more conventional methods is yet to be determined.

Recommended rating, reviewer 1:

Recommended rating, reviewer 2:

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Research paper citations

Additional references:

1. Swan, A. J., & Tyssen, E. G. (2009). Enhancing treatment access: evaluation of an Australian Web-based alcohol and drug counselling initiative. Drug and Alcohol Review, 28(1), 48-53.