To maintain counseling as a profession relevant to society, guidance counselors must embrace the place of information communication technology ICT.
ICT is an indispensable part of the life of every person on earth currently. Therefore, separating guidance and counseling from ICT is leaving an opportunity to enhance the everyday life of clients.
Since therapy and counseling are best provided to clients when they find it relatable to their normal lives, using the tools they use every day (that probably caused the issues) to provide intervention is an easy way to reduce the barriers to seeking help.
What is ICT in Counseling
ICT in counseling is the use of various forms of Information and communication technologies to provide professional assistance to clients.
It incorporates electronic devices and software to enhance the entire guidance and counseling process.
These devices include desktop computers, the internet, mobile applications, television sets, online messaging channels, assistive technologies, radio, and so on.
Roles of ICT in Guidance and Counseling
1. Effective record-keeping
Through the use of dedicated database software like Microsoft Excel counselors can be more effective in keeping clients’ records.
Rather than having numerous files with countless sheets of paper, every client’s document and progress sheet can be easily kept on a hard drive.
Also because of the possibility of cloud storage, the records of clients are prevented from possible loss or damage.
Records that could be kept include clients’ bio-data, anecdotal records, and progress reports.
2. Unlimited access to online resources
One strategy counselors can use in making counseling sessions holistic is the provision of resources to clients for their consumption outside of sessions.
For instance, a counselor handling a client who has difficulty progressing in their career can hand over books on goal setting to the clients. He can also give them worksheets and checklists to monitor their commitment to the goals.
However, the problem is that these resources are not readily available to all counselors and they have to develop some themselves.
This reduces the efficiency of the counselor.
But with the use of ICT in counseling, specifically the internet, counselors have unlimited access to both free and paid resources to help clients.
3. E-counseling services
Another use of ICT in guidance and counseling is the provision of e-counseling services. E-counseling is the provision of counseling services via electronic devices namely telephone, the internet, radio, and television.
This can be done through sending text messages, making phone calls, video calls, and one-way guidance services like blogs, radio, and television.
Some e-counseling channels like television and text messages are not as effective as having face-to-face sessions because the counselors cannot monitor the body language and nonverbal cues of the client.
But they are effective in providing, for instance, information service, which is one of the 7 guidance services. Video calls on the other hand can provide a personal feel.
Also, with the rise of new technologies like the Metaverse, e-counseling can now match up with physical counseling.
4. Effective follow-up services
As an extension of e-counseling, another role ICT can play for counselors or clients who still want physical sessions is follow-up.
The initial counseling encounter can be physical where the counselor explores the client’s issues and commences intervention.
However, in between sessions, the counselor can use ICTs to reach out to clients, ask about their welfare, and send reminders on certain assignments they may have given them.
It is also not strange to see counselors who serve as accountability partners for their clients to see that they develop some habits. This is enhanced through technology.
Also on another note, follow-up can be done with the use of ICT after the termination stage of counseling.
5. Access to dynamic test devices
ICT also provides counselors with dynamic methods and instruments to be used in appraising clients.
Test devices are instruments employed to gather relevant data about clients. They include psychological tests, achievement tests, and personality tests.
With the use of ICTs, diverse standardized tests can be gathered on the internet, the tests can be done on mobile devices and from the comfort of clients’ homes.
Also, the collection of the test results is easier and error-prone.
For example, if the counselor creates a Google form to assess a client’s improvement as a result of his intervention, the result can be seen immediately and referred to continually.
6. The use of film modeling technique
One technique of counseling that is used in behavior modification is film modeling. Here the client is made to watch a character in a movie, notice their behavior (response to issues), and model that.
Because it is presented to the client in a storyline, they are more intrigued than if it were social modeling (watching a physical person).
This technique exists because ICT is employed in counseling.
7 Organisation of counselors’ workflow
A typical counselor working in an organization has many activities and workflow to keep up with.
For example, a school counselor not only deals with client issues but is also in charge of keeping the Cumulative Record Folder, working with teachers for continuous assessment, and giving reports and directives to the school guidance committees, as well as other school guidance personnel.
ICT can help counselors organize their day and responsibilities. Using a tool like Notion, for instance, they can map out a to-do list, a quick reference point of activities’ progress, and even easily share them with other colleagues.
8. Gives PLWDs access to counseling
Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) face a lot of limitations when seeking mainstream guidance and counseling from a counselor who doesn’t specialize in PLWDs.
However, the introduction of ICT to counseling reduces that barrier. Smart devices and assistive technologies can be employed and they will be able to receive counseling from a mainstream counselor.
These devices include hearing aids, digital brails, audio messages, and even e-counseling for the physically challenged.
9. Easy transfer of clients’ records during referral services
ICT also helps counselors easily transfer the records of their clients to another professional during referral service.
This is also useful when collecting clients’ data from other sources like hospitals or academic institutions.
Rather than having to travel several miles and subject the records to the risk of breach of confidentiality or loss, transfers can be done within seconds via the Internet.
10. Enhanced group counseling
Group counseling sessions can also be enhanced through the use of ICT. Firstly, the group sessions can be held using Google Meet calls, and Slack or WhatsApp groups can be created for outside session communication.
It becomes even more useful when there’s difficulty in finding clients with similar issues who live in the same community or when schedules are tight.
Also, if there is not enough space to accommodate large crowds in group guidance, the sessions can be transferred online.
Importance of ICT to Counselors and Therapists
1. It increases the efficiency of counselors
With the use of ICT in the various means we have discussed so far, the overall efficiency of counselors and therapists has increased.
They can achieve more in less time because the time they would have spent on tasks such as record-keeping and organization of desks is saved through various information technologies.
2. It portrays professionalism to clients
Because the counselors now have more organized desks, online resources, and tests for clients, it gives them a show of professionalism.
Clients can be more confident that they are with someone vast and competent.
Although the use of ICT is not what makes the counselor a professional, the presence of these tools portrays a good picture to the client.
3. Increases the counselors’ experience
Some issues that will be brought to the counselor will be with technological devices, especially by the younger generation.
Cases like phone addiction and low self-esteem caused by social media are some of them.
A counselor who is versed in the use of these devices will be able to provide practical guidance from personal experience to clients as against one who doesn’t know about these devices.
Counselors can suggest apps and websites their clients can visit that will aid their situation.
4. Counselors can find more clients online
Several websites can help link clients to counselors. This is another benefit of ICT in counseling.
Counselors who want to start a private practice can take advantage of the pool of clients available on sites like GoodTherapy or BetterHelp.
Also, counselors can list their profiles on sites like Psychology Today.
5. Counselors can improve their skills online
The last advantage of ICT to guidance and counseling I’ll be covering is the availability of endless free and paid resources online for counselors to learn and improve their skills.
From YouTube to Coursera to Udemy and blogs, the list is endless.
Rather than paying thousands of dollars in traditional education, counselors can learn at 10% of the cost through online courses.
Also, because there are no admission requirements for online courses, even counselors with no strong academic backgrounds and the geographically disadvantaged can benefit.
Conclusion
There is no effective and efficient counseling or therapy in the 21st century without the use of ICTs. ICT benefits both therapists and clients and has a role to play in the entire counseling process.
That is, before the clients come for counseling (in skill acquisition of the counselor), during the session (tests, e-counseling & organization), and after the session (effective follow-up).