Working Online Safely - what is the bigger picture?

A great resource - 
"How can I work online safely?"

Please click on - 
https://www.loom.com/share/cfd51d0807df474b8376bfeef50087cf?fbclid=IwAR1RCSPYN9TBGGL-5yWJvjc0nI792gYtGHgI0t9ZtuNB3NEVjMkphS3088M

How Childhood Trauma Changes Our Hormones, And Thus Our Mental Health, Into Adulthood

Early life adversity is a major risk factor for the development of psychological and behavioural problems later in life. Higher rates of depression, suicidality, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and aggressive behaviour have been reported in adults who experienced childhood maltreatment.

Traumatic childhood events also contribute to increased drug use and dependence. Initiation of drug-taking behaviour begins at a much younger age in those who’ve experienced childhood trauma. Exposure to stressful events in childhood can increase the impact of stressful events throughout life. Add divorce or unemployment to childhood trauma and someone can be more likely to develop psychological disorders or addiction.

(Australian article)

LINK

OCTIA 2019 – Were You There?

Unfortunately, I could not make the time to travel to Manchester but, as delegates can attend OCTIA online, I chose to do just that …. And felt that I got my online fee’s worth.

On the OCTIA website the day promised …

“The 2019 conference theme is focused towards those online counsellors, therapists and health care professionals who are engaging with their clients and service users using the full range of online platforms and media. There'll be the opportunity to share how we care for our clients, but how we care for ourselves and each other as fellow professionals. We are stronger together!” https://www.octia.co.uk/

Working as a therapist or supervisor in the online world can sometimes feel isolating, bewildering and frustrating. These are negatives amongst the many benefits. The passion emanating from  today’s speakers was strong. Where organisations are often struggling to maintain a steady flow of funding, it was clear from today that everyone present had a deeply held belief in the difference that online therapy can make to clients of all ages. I felt that we are finally entering a time where online therapy  does not need to feel “second best” to face to face therapy. Instead it is well recognised that some very vulnerable clients would not access counselling face to face.

There was an interesting discussion around qualifications for working online. The age-old questions of “are they necessary?” As always, my thoughts turned to “we can never know what we do not know”. I might be biased as I have tutored in online counselling and supervision over the years, but I still remember just how much I did not know when I trained. Those moments of “OMG … !” Todays speakers clearly agreed with the need for appropriate training and good support.

A discussion around providing online therapy from volunteer counsellors was summarised well by Catherine Betley who believes strongly that no counsellor should be asked to work voluntarily. The attributes that they bring need to be respected. I agree and wonder whether the world of online therapy has many therapists passionate about the benefits of online therapy and would even work voluntarily to make it accessible. I know that this is why I worked voluntarily for an online organisation in the past.

My sense is that conferences like OCTIA will help ensure that ethical and safe online practice for the sake of clients will always be the standard at a time when online therapy can still be heard of as “the stepping-stone into face to face therapy”. Putting clients first, we need to stamp this out as being inaccurate and disrespectful of online therapy at a time when online therapists can often be faced with having to make a decision to hold the emotional needs of a very complex client . The passion of many online therapists comes from their desire to meet the needs of clients where they can be best met – whether that is sitting in their bed struck with grief or too full of shame and guilt to sit with a therapist, directly, face to face.  I can’t remember who said this today, but it is  “horses for courses”. The choice of face to face or online therapy can only continue to benefit clients.

Thank you to the OCTIA team – see you next year.

Jan Stiff

CYP Director ACTO

"How do children’s helplines measure their effectiveness?" Last updated: 17 Sep 2019

"Key finding 

Children’s helplines can improve children’s wellbeing, confidence and ability to cope with their current situation, as well as reduce anxiety and distress."

"Additional findings

Children’s helplines are an established component of child protection systems. Positive outcomes for children and young people occur as a result of helpline counselling itself or as a result of support from external agencies brought about by helpline referrals.

The evidence base for children’s helplines provides a rich understanding of children’s concerns and issues.

An increasing number of helplines provide an online service, which can have distinct benefits associated with accessibility, reach and anonymity."

Link Last accessed 30-09-19

Grief - there is no right - there is no wrong ...

EBPU Key Findings: 2019

“An overview of the Evidence Based Practice Unit's key research findings in child mental health.

The findings are categorised into EBPU's four focus areas:

1. Risk: What is the range of contexts and conditions that put a child or young person at risk of mental health issues?
2. Resilience: What enables some children to cope better than others in difficult circumstances?
3. Change: What influences change in children's mental health and wellbeing over time?
4. Choice: How can children and families be supported to be an active part of decision making?” Last accessed 03-09-19

Access the booklet here.

Link

Children’s wellbeing. Source: The Children’s Society

"The Children’s Society has published its annual Good childhood report looking at the wellbeing of children in the UK. Findings, based on surveys of children of different ages across Great Britain, include: children’s happiness with life as a whole decreased from 8.03 on a 0-10 scale in 2015/16 to 7.89 in 2016/7; children experiencing multiple disadvantages had a lower mean satisfaction with life than those experiencing one; and it seems that living with intermittent poverty is associated with lower life satisfaction than living in persistent poverty."

Link