Online counseling: On the digital extension of advice

Abstract

Online counseling is gaining importance both on qualitative and quantitative level, especially in Germany. This article doesn’t focus on the contrast to face-to-face-consultation but points out the independent contribution of online counseling to the digital extension of advice.Apart from taking a look at the amount of utilization and variation the paper studies outcome and efficiency of online counseling which, due to its short-termed history, certainly require further extensive research. According to preliminary results online counseling is able to address new groups of clients and its efficiency is quite comparable with traditional methods. But recent studies show as well that online access to social support depends on educational levels. However, advice by Internet booms and generates hybrid settings of consultation in which face-to-face- and online counseling increasingly merge.