How Do Counsellors Make Sense of the Online Disinhibition Effect When Counselling Clients via Video‐Conferencing? An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Study

ABSTRACT Objectives This qualitative study focuses on how counsellors make sense of the online disinhibition effect via video conferencing. Whilst online disinhibition is recognised within the profession as the unregulated release of emotions when online, there is a lack of research exploring how this is experienced and understood by counsellors using video conferencing. Method Six counsellors participated in semi‐structured interviews, ‘in person’ or via video‐conferencing. Data was analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis to provide a nuanced exploration of participants' rich data on their lived experiences and meaning‐making processes of the online disinhibition effect via video‐conferencing. Results Three group experiential themes were generated from the data: the phenomenology of disinhibition, adapting to technology in the post‐COVID world and the therapeutic relationship via video‐conferencing. Results suggest the experience of disinhibition is highly individualised with participants making sense of this concept through unique perspectives. Their understanding of online disinhibition was influenced by their transition into a post‐COVID‐19 world and the need to adapt to technological changes. Consequently, participants made sense of the online disinhibition effect within the video‐conferencing therapeutic relationship. Conclusion Findings indicate counsellor and client co‐experience each other, and the mediating factors of disinhibition, within the context of the technological relationship. As such, online disinhibition is seen here as a complex process of co‐creation within the relationship, as opposed to something that ‘happens’ to the client. Training providers, supervisors and practitioners could facilitate more effective and ethical practice by increasing their awareness of the element of co‐creation and highly individualised experience of online disinhibition.