Online counseling: A primer for practitioners

The number of people with reliable access to the Internet has grown exponentially in recent years. With the advent of such connectivity, mental health counseling has expanded into the virtual realm by using online counseling as a means to facilitate the therapeutic relationshi. Those in the field who are considering establishing or expanding their practice with the Internet have an obligation to fully explore and understand both the ethical and legal ramifications of doing so as well as the empirical research examining the efficacy and essential skills required of such practices.