Research Institute
The Therapy Online Research Institute, established in 1998, exists to develop research projects, both internally and in collaboration with other institutions, that further our understanding of online counselling.
Current Research Projects
Some of our present research projects:
- Collaboration with the University of Toronto focused on
cybercounselling transcript analysis
- We have developed a measure that assesses the quality of the text-based clinical response of the counsellor or therapist. This work is being presented at the summer 2012 American Psychological Association conference in Florida.
- Ongoing research into applications of pedagogical principles
to cybercounselling training
- We continually evaluate our training programs. This information results in improvements in the training programs themselves and leads to academic publications. See for example our 2008 publication in collaboration with Professor MacFadden of U of T noted below.
- Collaboration with Anishnawbe Health Toronto
- In this project we seek to determine the utility and impact of online counselling with urban aboriginal populations.
Academic Publications
Murphy, L.J., Mitchell, D.L. & Hallett, R. (2011). A comparison of client characteristics in cyber and in-person counseling. in B.K. Widerhold et al. (Eds) Annual Review of Cybertherapy and Telemedicine, Vol. 167, 149-153. Download.
Murphy, L.J., Parnass, P., Mitchell, D.L., O'Quinn, S. (2010). The emerging field of cybercounselling: Personal and professional reflections. Intervention, 132, 84-93. Download
Murphy, L.J., Parnass, P., Mitchell, D.L., Hallett, R.H., Cayley, P., & Seagram, S. (2009) Client satisfaction and outcome comparisons of online and face-to-face counselling methods. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 39, 627-640. Download
Murphy, L.J, & Mitchell, D.L. (2009) Overcoming the absence of tone and non-verbal elements of communication in text-based cybercounselling. In J.G. McDaniel (Ed) Advances in Information Technology and Communication in Health, Vol. 143, 215-219. IOS Press BV, Amsterdam. Download.
Murphy, L.J., MacFadden, R.J., & Mitchell, D.L. (2008) Cybercounseling online: The development of a University-based training program for e-mail counselling. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 26, 447-469. Download.
Mitchell, D. L. & Murphy, L. J. (2004) E-mail rules! Organizations and individuals creating ethical excellence in telemental-health. In J. Bloom & G. Walz (Eds.) Cybercounseling and Cyberlearning: An ENCORE. CAPS Press and American Counseling Association. Download.
Collie, K., Mitchell, D. L., & Murphy, L. J. (2000). E-mail Counseling: Skills for Maximum Impact. ERIC Digest.
Collie, K., Mitchell, D. & Murphy, L. (2000). Skills for on-line counseling: Maximum impact at minimum bandwidth. In J. W. Bloom & G. R.Walz (Eds.), Cybercounseling and cyberlearning: Strategies and resources for the millennium (pp. 219-236). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association and ERIC/CASS. Download.
Mitchell, D. L. & Murphy, L. M. (1998). Confronting the challenges of therapy online: A pilot project. Proceedings of the Seventh National and Fifth International Conference on Information Technology and Community Health; Victoria, Canada [On-line]. Download.
Murphy, L. J. & Mitchell, D. L. (1998). When writing helps to heal: e-mail as therapy. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 26 (1), 21-32. Download.
Newsletter Publications
Schell, D. (2010). Being there. Crosscurrents: The Journal of Addiction and Mental Health, 13 (2), 16-17. Download
Mitchell, D. L. (2004). Cybercounselling. Good Hope, 1 (1), 1. Available online.
Mitchell, D. L. & Murphy, L. J. (2002). Ethics, e-mail, and the counselling profession. Cognica: the Canadian Counselling Association's Newsletter, 34 (2), 10-14. Download.
Mitchell, D. L. & Murphy, L. J. (1998). The practice of therapy online. Cognica: the Canadian Counselling Association's Newsletter, 30 (2), 5-6.
Blogs
To learn more about the Therapy Online Research Institute or to inquire about possible collaborations please contact Lawrence Murphy.