Overcoming the tyranny of distance: Exploring the use of teleconferencing group counselling

Abstract

This paper examines the possibility of using teleconferencing group counselling to overcome the tyranny of distance in providing services to rural communities. It presents some reasons social workers hesitate to move into teleconferencing group counselling and then provides areas for consideration in the pregroup private phase to help in deciding whether teleconferencing group counselling (TGC) is right for potential group leaders and suitable for the agency and its clientele. These include: increasing knowledge about teleconferencing; considering the arguments for and against teleconferencing group counselling; checking motives for starting a teleconferencing counselling group; and being aware of the importance of group work skills.