TY - JOUR
T1 - Children’s experiences texting with a child helpline
AU - Bechmann Jensen, Torben
AU - Sindahl, Trine Natasja
AU - Wistoft, Jasmin
PY - 2020/3/3
Y1 - 2020/3/3
N2 - We explore how children experienced texting with a child helpline, based on 724 qualitative responses representing 586 individual SMS counselling sessions. The data were collected through a questionnaire distributed immediately after receiving counselling and two weeks later. The children expressed the importance of feeling listened to and accepted by the counsellor, gaining new perspectives or developing a plan of action. They also emphasised the importance of the counsellors being sensitive to their readiness for change by providing advice and directives when needed and a listening ear when that was preferred. Only a few comments concerned the medium of texting itself, indicating that the sense of psychological closeness can move the technology to the background and outside one’s awareness.
AB - We explore how children experienced texting with a child helpline, based on 724 qualitative responses representing 586 individual SMS counselling sessions. The data were collected through a questionnaire distributed immediately after receiving counselling and two weeks later. The children expressed the importance of feeling listened to and accepted by the counsellor, gaining new perspectives or developing a plan of action. They also emphasised the importance of the counsellors being sensitive to their readiness for change by providing advice and directives when needed and a listening ear when that was preferred. Only a few comments concerned the medium of texting itself, indicating that the sense of psychological closeness can move the technology to the background and outside one’s awareness.
KW - child helpline
KW - mediated counselling
KW - SMS
KW - Texting
KW - youth
U2 - 10.1080/03069885.2018.1519182
DO - 10.1080/03069885.2018.1519182
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85053295704
SN - 0306-9885
JO - British Journal of Guidance and Counselling
JF - British Journal of Guidance and Counselling
ER -