“Staying power:” Determining what keeps online counselors devoted to their jobs

Mental health disorders have increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the World Health Organization, depression and anxiety rates rose 25-27 % in the first year of the pandemic in 2020. The recent rise has highlighted the necessity of mental health professionals, including online counsellors, to provide quick support. Online therapy in India has become institutionalized since 2015. Online counselling's emotionally demanding nature may contribute to their stress, which may influence their turnover intention. The study used quantitative methods to assess online counsellors' career commitment, taking into consideration their new work arrangements. 270 online counsellors employed by Indian mental health organizations provided data, which showed that high levels of posttraumatic growth directly and indirectly influence online counsellors' turnover intentions; however, organizational culture moderates the direct relationship. A high level of career commitment indirectly mediates this pathway. The results highlight the importance of addressing the challenges that online counsellors face as a traumatized workforce. The study contributes to the existing literature by examining the new working setup and the increasing demand for mental health services. It offers insights into reducing turnover intentions among online counsellors. This study highlights the importance of developing workplace policies that consider the needs of online counsellors. The findings suggest that a supportive organizational culture, along with counsellors' ability to recover from trauma, strongly influences their intention to remain with the organization. Such knowledge can be utilized by managers in online counselling businesses to inspire, involve, and hold on to their staff.