Hi my name is Luke, I'm a graduate mental health counseling student
at Marshall just about to finish my second semester.

Thought i'd raise a topic for discussion...online counseling.

I came across an Australian website, advertising the services of
an "online counselor". The website describes her degrees (one in
science and one in psychology) in very loose terms and the counselor
doesn't give any initials after her name, or any sign of
any "counselor" training.

It seems very unethical to me for this kind of service to be offered.
Her "sessions" are done all online, but not in a chatroom or a
messenger system, but via emails and so each session could "span
several days or longer".

I support online counseling if it is done in conjunction with live
meetings, is a constant online experience (like in a private, secure
chatroom or messenger system) and is used for clients who have
difficulties getting to sessions for whatever reasons.

Any thoughts?