Study Examines Communication Challenges in Telehealth Counseling
Dr. Karishma Chatterjee, Associate Professor of Instruction, and Dr. Damla Ricks, Senior Lecturer in UTA's Department of Communication, have published a new cross-disciplinary study examining how counselors navigate challenging conversations with clients during telehealth interactions.
Published in Health: An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health, Illness and Medicine, the study explores how counselors respond when expected norms of virtual interactions are disrupted.
Findings highlight the importance of reading body language, maintaining privacy, and minimizing distractions when counselors challenge clients. Participants reported navigating behaviors including clients walking away from the camera, shouting, making faces, or remaining silent.
The researchers suggest that counselors who understand and adapt to the capabilities and limitations of technology may be better positioned to navigate challenging conversations effectively in virtual care.