A Preliminary Comparison Study of Online and Face-to-Face Counseling: Client Perceptions of Three Factors

This preliminary study examined the similarities and differences between online and face-to-face counseling with regard to general mental health, working alliance, and social presence. Participants included 50 current counseling clients (37 face-to-face, 13 online) who all were recruited through online mediums. Results indicated that online counseling clients perceived a significantly stronger working alliance on the total Working Alliance Inventory-Short Form as well as the Goal subscale than did those who received face-to-face only counseling. No significant differences existed between the groups on general mental health or social presence. These results suggest that a more controlled study with a larger sample might find that a strong working alliance can be developed through online counseling. KEYWORDS: online counselingsocial presencetherapeutic relationship Notes Note: Higher scores reflect higher self-reports of social presence and working alliance; Lower scores reflect a higher quality of mental health Online (n = 13); Face-to-face (n = 37). *p < .05. Note: Higher scores reflect higher self-reports of working alliance Online (n = 11); Face-to-face (n = 37). *p < .05.