Technology has transformed the world faster than ever in recent years, and those changes have played out across higher education and counseling as much as anywhere else. Digital work platforms, VR and AR simulations, AI and other technologies are revolutionizing the field in many ways. But what are the biggest changes? From interactive platforms hosting digital case studies, to live supervision and monitoring tools, to VR and AR simulations that prepare counselors for real-world situations, these are the new technologies counseling students need to be aware of.
Online Education Has Increased Access for Counselors and Students
No matter what you might think of them, online counseling platforms are huge business and have millions of customers in the US alone. Just as these online sessions have provided flexibility and remote access to counseling for even people in remote or rural areas, so have online degrees opened up the possibility of becoming a counselor. For example, even doctorate in counseling online degree programs are available today from universities and schools that work internationally. Counseling is a booming area of work, and platforms have really expanded their reach in recent years to educate many new people into the field.
Gone are the days of online degrees facilitating correspondence between professors and students and little else. Online programs now use virtual classrooms, collaborative cloud software and multimedia case analysis to prepare future counselors for real-world practice that can increasingly be digital as well as in-person.
AI counseling is also a factor, and one that the sector has to contend with. Technology should not replace the emotional art of human counseling, and those teaching in the sector for the most part understand this. Patients are increasingly turning to AI agents for support on many things, including people who are also in human counseling. Modern counselors need to be aware of AI, its benefits and its risks, so they can discuss this with their patients. Let alone the rise of AI psychosis, which some believe is a not insignificant and growing problem.
Digital Platforms Have Enhanced the Learning and Feedback Experience
Even for students who choose to study on campus or at a physical university part time can benefit from online educational tools. Cloud-based resource platforms are now standard, meaning students can access educational materials and collaborate or receive feedback on work and assignments from any device at any time.
Supervised video conferencing allows students to be observed with minimal distractions or interference from their in person examiners or tutors. AI and VR-powered simulations can be infinitely customized at ease, compared to the hours of work actors need to prepare for a roleplay. They can also be paused for student clarification and advice in real time. These are also automatically recorded, and can be uploaded to the cloud for easy access and review without transferring physical media. In this way students can review, reflect and receive feedback on their clinical practice sessions at their own pace and from any location.
Interactive multimedia case studies also enhance the experience for people with diverse learning styles, incorporating materials useful for all into one easily accessible package. The fact is telepsychology is a standard component of many counseling practitioners day-to-day work. Modern counseling degrees, both online and in person, have adapted to prepare students for that world.
Beyond the Classroom and Into Clinical Settings
As mentioned above, digital tools are now common practice in counseling. Recent studies of practicing US counselors have shown that upwards of 90% now regularly engage with telehealth and digital tools in their work. Patients are also adapting too. One 2024 survey of people in teletherapy in the US saw 87% of respondents felt digital communication tools helped with their counseling sessions.
Innovations in clinical settings of recent years include:
- Dedicated secure scheduling and messaging platforms with notifications, check ins and other features
- Smartphone apps for mood tracking, guided exercises and other self help tools
- Cloud documents for sharing journal entries, tracking progress on goals etc.
- Wearable tech and biometric sensors
In clinical settings, VR has not yet widely been adopted but has seen interest from specialist programs and research is ongoing. Avoidance and aversion therapy for anxiety, phobias and PTSD is one area in which research is promising. The biggest trend of recent years has been programs combining many of the above tools into single platforms, often including AI. It is important to note AI in this context is largely used for back-end organization and monitoring, as the use of AI for direct counseling remains highly controversial. For example, being able to schedule appointments, read patient notes, message the patient directly, update their documentation and share useful third-party links all in one place can be invaluable in saving a counselor time in building a more trusting bond with the patient. Student counselors who train with this kind of digitization in mind will find themselves well adapted and placed to take on the modern counseling role.