Experiences of Online Counseling Among Undergraduates in Some Ghanaian Universities

Patricia Mawusi Amos, P. K. A. Bedu-Addo and Theresa Antwi

SAGE Open, 2020, vol. 10, issue 3, 2158244020941844

Abstract: Counseling is an age-old practice with roots dating back to the 20th century. Twenty-first-century boom in technology has offered new opportunities for counseling practice, making it possible for counselors and clients to interact virtually without recourse to physical meetings. This study sought to investigate students’ experiences of online counseling in some Ghanaian universities. A qualitative phenomenological approach was used to examine the experiences of undergraduate students using online counseling. Five of the student-clients used WhatsApp messaging, two used e-mailing, and one used WhatsApp video. A thematic approach was used to analyze student-clients’ experiences. Accessibility, convenience, privacy, and mobility were some significant benefits they indicated concerning online counseling. On the contrary, loss of non-verbal cues, mistrust, and poor internet connectivity were their major obstacles to online counseling. Nevertheless, their issues were resolved with the use of online counseling. It is recommended that Counselors are trained in the use of online resources for counseling, and Management of Universities should introduce counseling technology devices to students to make online counseling more accessible and convenient.

Keywords: online counseling; technology; face-to-face counseling; non-verbal cues; Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:sagope:v:10:y:2020:i:3:p:2158244020941844

DOI: 10.1177/2158244020941844

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