MENTAL HEALTH
Online counselling - the way forward for young people
“I
t is 9pm on a Sunday night. 14-year-old Annafeelssad is
telling me about her sister.
“They don’t get on. Anna is self-harming and attends a school I work with as part of a local authority contract.
“This is not Anna’s first counselling session. I can see from the case notes that she’s had four chats with our team in three days.
“I ask her if she would like to be allocated a specific counsellor she can talk to once a week to work together around the self- harm problem. She sounds unsure until I reassure her that the counselling service, Kooth, doesn’t offer face- to-face sessions. It all takes place online, just as our chat has.
“Then, yes please!” is her answer. I can sense her confidence in me building. That same evening, I talk to Lindsay, one of our trained counsellors, and she agrees to start working with Anna the very next day.”
Others need longer term therapeutic counselling around issues such as trauma, family breakdown or self harm.
“Online counselling works particularly well for vulnerable young people who can’t or won’t sit in a room with a therapist and there are many in the UK who won’t. They slip through the net and miss out on support when they need it most,” said Elaine.
These are the notes of Elaine Bousfield, director of Xenzone, an e-therapy service which brings together counsellors, mental health therapists and IT specialists in
Kooth.com, a unique online counselling service for young people aged between 11-25.
Elaine Bousfield
Xenzone developed online counselling back in 2001 and it immediately began to resonate with younger people with 35% of referrals being under the age of 18. A young people’s counselling service was trialled with a PCT in 2004 and it proved so successful that
Kooth.com, the UK’s first online counselling service for young people, was born. Since its launch, over half a million have accessed counselling and support online with around 1,500 currently coming through Kooth each month.
“Commissioners buy online counselling for several reasons,” said Elaine. “In these hard pressed times, it delivers on a number of levels. It’s cost- effective, being cheaper than
34 nhe
providing face-to-face services, it’s accessible for those living in more remote areas and, crucially, online counselling delivers services in a medium that young people understand and are confident in using.” Recent research says that 89% of young people prefer online counselling to other methods.
“Online counselling provides very detailed reports to give commissioners the information they need on demographics of use, presenting issues and geographical clusters,” said Elaine. “It paints an accurate picture of mental health in any given area – crucial for allocating services and resources.”
Sometimes young people only need one or two sessions with a counsellor to talk things through that they feel they can’t discuss with family, friends or teachers.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Elaine Bousfield T: 0845 330 7090 W:
www.xenzone.com
Nov/Dec 10
“With the high numbers of young people coming through Kooth seeking counselling, online services are something that all CAMHS should consider as part of their delivery.’
Around 62% of young people access the online services through their schools or they hear about it from friends, posters or possibly their GP. Elaine and her team work closely with teachers and pupils to raise awareness of the option of online counselling. With the changes proposed by the White Paper, her team will be increasing contact with GP’s and also continuing to work with PCT’s to ensure their commitment to preventative services such as online counselling, remains a priority.
“We’re continually evolving Kooth to ensure it meets the needs of commissioners and young people. We also plan to launch an adult online service early next year.’
*Annafeelssad is a fictitious name to protect the identity of the young person.
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