Orientação Psicológica On-line: Percepção dos Profissionais sobre a Relação com os Clientes Online Psychological Counseling: the Perception of Professionals about the Relationship with Clients Orientación Psicológica Online: Percepción de los Profesionales sobre la Relación con los Clientes

Abstract: Psychological online treatments are a recent practice which has been receiving growing attention from professionals and researchers. There are few studies on this subject in Brazil, and further investigation to better understand it is needed. Resolution 012/2005 of the Federal Council of Psychology regularizes the computer-mediated psychological services, among which online counseling is highlighted. Using a qualitative and exploratory design, the present study aimed to investigate the perception of professionals about online counseling, focusing on the relationship established with clients. Four professionals, men and women, of different ages, practices and time of professional exercise were interviewed. Semi-structured online individual interviews were used for data collection. Participants were chosen from regularized sites registered at the Federal Council of Psychology. Content analysis of Bardin was carried out for data analysis. Regarding the study results, it was possible to observe that this practice presents both limits and potentialities. We concluded that the bond established in this relationship is different from that observed in regular clinical practice, but it allows for achievement of treatment goals and fulfillment of clients’ expectancies. Online treatments constitute a new practice which needs to be studied in order to generate greater understanding and enlightenment to the area, representing benefits for both professionals and clients.