• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.49-58
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to find out how on-line counseling modalities (phone, video, and video counseling using digital mask) differ from face-to-face counseling in terms of clients' perception of working alliance, depth and smoothness of each session, satisfaction, and their qualitative counseling experience. 40 university students participated in the experiment, divided into 4 groups, received 3 personal counseling sessions per person. The quantitative data revealed no significant difference among the four counseling groups in working alliance. Also, the "depth" of the session was similar in the four groups, but phone and video with mask counseling group who did not expose their faces showed higher "smoothness" in the first and second sessions than face-to-face counseling group, indicating that anonymity was helping the clients' inhibition overcome. Through the post-interview data, subtle differences in experience of each counseling method were identified by the participants. The results are expected to provide primary information for developing and implementing various online counseling modalities in the future.