Single session email consultation for parents: an evaluation of its effect on empowerment

• Published in: British journal of guidance & counselling Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 131 - 143
• Main Authors: Nieuwboer, Christa C., Fukkink, Ruben G., Hermanns, Jo M.A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Routledge 01.01.2015; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Behavior modification; Competence; Computer Mediated Communication; Confidence; Consultation Programs; Content Analysis; Control Groups; Counseling Effectiveness; Counseling Services; Counseling Techniques; Counselor Training; Electronic Mail; Electronic mail systems; email consultation; Empowerment; experiment; Experimental Groups; Foreign Countries; Intervention; Netherlands; Novices; Parent Attitudes; Parent Education; Parent Surveys; parenting support; Parents & parenting; Pretests Posttests; Quantitative psychology; Questionnaires; Self Efficacy; Training Methods; Transcripts (Written Records); Netherlands
• ISSN: 0306-9885; 1469-3534
• DOI: 10.1080/03069885.2014.929636

This study evaluated the effect of single session email consultation (SSEC) on empowerment of parents. Practitioners in a control group (n = 19) received no training and practitioners in an experimental group (n = 21) were trained to use empowerment-oriented techniques in online consultation. Parental empowerment was measured (n = 96) through a questionnaire based on the Family Empowerment Scale before and after receiving advice from a trained or a non-trained practitioner. Parents showed a significant increase in the subscale of self-confidence (Cohen's d = 0.33). Study findings lend support to the feasibility of SSEC as a brief intervention to improve self-confidence of parents. A training for practitioners did not influence the outcomes.