Avatar-based counselling for psychological distress in secondary school pupils: pilot evaluation

ABSTRACT

This study is a pilot evaluation of a new avatar-based therapeutic tool, ProReal, with psychologically distressed young people within a school setting. In total, 54 young people, aged 12–18 years old, participated in face-to-face avatar-based counselling. Young people used the software to represent themselves and others, their problems and emotions. The primary outcome measure was the Young Person’s CORE (YP-CORE). The avatar-based counselling intervention was feasible to implement and acceptable to clients, with 90% rating the help that they received as good, and less than 20% dropout. The intervention was associated with small to medium reductions in psychological distress, psychological difficulties and conduct problems. These improvements, however, were significant for male clients only. Outcomes were greater for counsellors who spent more time in training and using the ProReal software.

KEYWORDS:

• Computer-assisted therapy
• avatar-based therapy
• adolescents
• treatment outcome

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Mick Cooper is Professor of Counselling Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Roehampton, Holybourne Avenue, London SW15 4JD, [email protected]

Dr Biljana van Rijn is Faculty Head, Faculty of Applied Research and Clinical Practice, Metanoia Institute, 13 North Common Rd, London, W5 2QB, [email protected]

Dr Evi Chryssafidou is Researcher, Faculty of Applied Research and Clinical Practice, Metanoia Counselling and Psychotherapy Service (MCPS), Metanoia Institute, 13 North Common Rd, London, W5 2QB.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Small Business Research Initiative.