Eye Conduct During An Online Therapy Session

By Author: Arnold Bucky
Total Articles: 3
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Modern broadband internet communications and advanced web-cam technology have made video sessions in online counseling to be very fluid. In fact, it is the closest experience one can have to traditional therapy. There is, however, a pertinent issue that must be addressed for both client and online therapist in regards to video sessions. That is, the lack of direct eye contact. For the client or therapist to see each others eyes directly each person must look directly into the camera lens. By doing so, the person facing the camera cannot see the other person's face as he or she is focused on the camera lens. This poses a potential problem in online therapy as eye contact, facial expression, and body language during verbal exchanges is very important because they are all forms of communication. For the online counselor, not being able to perceive this non-verbal communication while speaking to the client can lead to the therapist to miss out on cues the client may reveal of their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that may be outside of the clients awareness. In traditional therapy, the therapist would see and take notice of all ...
... of these factors.

A therapist can determine how a client is feeling by the client's physical expression during verbal exchanges. One can see if a client is becoming anxious, angry, or saddened because the client will often reveal this in their body language. When these changes are observed often the therapist will ask the client to reflect upon their thought processes when discussing whatever matter was discussed in the previous verbal exchange. Many times, this will reveal to the client reactions and expressions that were previously outside of their awareness that may be useful in the therapeutic process. If the camera position of either client or therapist prevents this, then much can be lost that would otherwise be used in traditional therapy. This is a major critique of the video session in online counseling.

At this time completely direct eye contact is not possible with current web camera technology. Online therapists and their clients can certainly mitigate the effects this limitation imposes on the therapeutic process. This is done by placing the camera in a position that has the lens just directly above the viewing screen. This way the frontal view of each persons face is directly visible on screen. This way, both client and online counselor can look directly at the screen and speak to each other instead of the camera lens. The view is not going to be perfect in regards to eye contact, but it is much better than turning away from the other persons face to make eye contact through the lens. The therapist can now observe the clients facial expressions while speaking and regain some of the cues that would have been lost while addressing the camera.

There are numerous web cams that are able to mount on the top of a desktop computer screen or laptop to go along with built in cameras that are placed right above the screen. Stand alone cameras that are placed on a desk will have to be placed just sideways of the viewing screen to achieve the best results. However, it will not produce the same effect as the frontal view produced from a mounted camera. This is just one small step to enhance the online counseling experience. For the therapist, it will ease the work in-session and for the client he or she will be much more comfortable if he or she is able to see their therapist directly. Hopefully, in the future there will be some sort of viewing lenses, akin to eye glasses, that can be worn to facilitate direct eye contact but for now a mounted camera will have to suffice.

Robert Morse, M.A. is the sole operator of the e-therapy service website http://rmetherapy.com. He can be contacted by email at contact@rmetherapy.com or by telephone at (800) 313-1169.

Sophisticated E-therapy website offering online counseling, internet therapy.For more details about Therapist Online and Counselor Online please visit our website.