Today, organized interaction between the client and the consultant is significant, aimed at resolving problems and making positive changes in the activities of an individual specialist or organization as a whole. It is possible to identify the leading provisions related to the essence of the counseling process:
- counseling helps the counselee to choose a course of action at their discretion;
- counseling helps to learn new behavior and promotes personal growth;
- counseling emphasizes the responsibility of the counselee, and the consultant creates conditions that encourage his volitional behavior;
- the core of counseling is an effective interaction between the consultant and the consulted person, based on the philosophy of client-centered therapy.
BetterHelp is an online counseling portal that provides everyone with direct access to mental health services. Counseling and therapeutic services are provided online, as well as by phone and text messages. That is, a person can receive the necessary assistance from anywhere in the world, which is also important in the current situation with COVID-19. The site aims to help everyone who needs it (Professional therapy). However, the primary audience that caused the opening of the portal is people who find it difficult to combine their daily lives with counseling and therapy. In addition, BetterHelp has a 24/7 support service, so the consultation can take place at any time the client needs.
The site selects an individual consultant for each client all over the world. However, the downside is that the person independently chooses the direction that they, in their opinion, need to work on. That is not true since, for example, depression and eating disorders are diseases that require a confirmation from a doctor. Clients from any sphere or social status can visit the site, and many may not even understand what is happening to them and their problems.
It would be better to add brief descriptions to each subsection in such a case. In addition, initial consultation with a specialist to determine what issue needs to be worked out or which direction to move would make further consultation more effective. It can also be divided into sections for people with different symptoms, such as counseling people with an anxiety disorder. However, while the site’s services have similar benefits to traditional face-to-face therapy, they cannot replace it in all cases (Professional therapy). It is important to note that the consulting physician cannot make any official diagnosis, comply with any court order, or prescribe any medication.
The counseling process may include a series of consultations – the actions of a professional consultant. They aim to solve specific problems of the client and have a certain semantic and temporal completeness (Professional therapy). Talks can be one-time, episodic, and built into a certain system. The consultation system, by its logic, reflects the main stages of the consultation process. Psychological counseling can provide professional practical and informational assistance to people who need it in any format convenient for the client.
The service is supported by independent providers who work directly with a client. These providers are not employees of BetterHelp, and the site does not professionally monitor them (Professional therapy). Their mission is to create and maintain a platform that allows users and therapists to communicate effectively and facilitate this channel to get the most out of their interaction.
Reference
Professional therapy with a licensed therapist. BetterHelp. (n.d.). Web.