Online Counseling, 2nd ed. A Handbook for Mental Health Professionals

Providers and consumers of mental health services are increasingly making use of the internet to gather information, consult, and participate in psychotherapy. This Handbook gives practical insight into how professionals can translate their practice to an online medium. Divided into four sections, section one provides an overview of how the internet has become an integral part of people's lives, and the research to date on the use and effectiveness of counseling online, as well as idiosyncrasies of online behavior and communication. Section two discusses the "practical" aspects of counseling online, including technological issues, ethical and legal issues, and business issues. Section three focuses on performing psychotherapy online, including online treatment strategies and skills, working with online groups, online testing and assessment, and international and multicultural issues in online counseling. The last section discusses the future of online counseling.

The Handbook is intended for those professionals interested in the burgeoning telehealth movement and to those practicing therapists looking for ways to expand their practices online and/or to help round out treatment to specific patients who might benefit from online therapy in addition to traditional delivery.

* Foreword by Morgan Sammons and Patrick DeLeon, past president of the American Psychological Association
* The first comprehensive textbook designed to give clinicians and mental health students everything they need to understand and start providing mental health services via the Internet
* Each chapter includes study questions and key terms, making it ideal for use in graduate or continuing education settings
* Includes clear and comprehensive chapters on research and technology related to online counseling
* Contributors include past, present, and elected presidents of the International Society for Mental Health Online (ISMHO), the Inernet's leading resource for professionals interested in online counseling and other methods of delivering mental health services via the Internet

Dr. Ron Kraus is a clinical and child psychologist practicing in New York City and northern New Jersey. Since 1998 Dr. Kraus teaches at the Metropolitan Campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he enjoys giving traditional as well as online courses. Dr. Kraus founded OnlineClinics.com in 1999 and was elected president of the International Society for Mental Health Online (www.ISMHO.org) in 2002. Dr. Kraus' projects online include: www.EthicsCode.com and the memorial site: www.StillRemember.com. Ron is married to a healthcare professional, likes to play Jazz on his trumpet and is the father of two. More about Dr Kraus' public and community activity can be found at: http://www.RonKraus.com
Dr. Stricker is a distinguished research professor in the Derner Institute and Adelphi University. He received a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Rochester in 1960. He has been at Adelphi University since 1963, and served as Dean of the Derner Institute for a decade.

Dr. Stricker is a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology and was elected as a Distinguished Practitioner in Psychology. He received the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Contribution to Applied Psychology in 1990, the American Psychological Association Award for Distinguished Career Contributions to Education and Training in Psychology in 1995, and an honorary Psy.D. from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Meadows Campus, in 1997. He also recieved the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology Award for Distinguished Contribution to Education and Professional Psychology in 1998, and the Allen V. Williams, Jr. Memorial Award from the New York State Psychological Association in 1999. He received the Karl Heiser Award for Advocacy in 1996 from the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Stricker has been President of the Division of Clinical Psychology of the American Psychological Association, the Society for Personality Assessment, the New York State Psychological Association, and the National Council of Schools of Professional Psychology. He is on the Board of Directors of the Council for the National Register of Health Care Providers, and has served on several APA Boards and Committees, including the Board of Educational Affairs and as Chair of the Ethics Committee.

Dr. Stricker is both author and editor. He has worked on about 20 books, 30 book chapters, and more than 100 journal articles. His principal interests are psychotherapy integration, clinical training, ethics, and research in grandparenting.