Alchemists on Screen: Crafting Creative Practices in Online Counseling

Online counseling (OC), which had existed for years but was not widely trusted by mental health professionals and clients, gained widespread acceptance during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the necessity of remote services. Now, it has become indispensable due to its advantages despite its limitations. OC has yet to be studied much and is a phenomenon that can be investigated from different perspectives. This phenomenological study aimed to examine the dynamics of creativity and OC comprehensively. The sample, recruited by purposive sampling, included five female and four male counselors highly experienced in face-to-face and OC. Data were collected with semi-structured interviews recorded with the permission of the participants. After the verbatim transcription, data were analyzed using content analysis. According to the results, emerging themes included fostering creativity, barriers to creativity, advantages of OC, disadvantages of OC, recommendations, and potential creative interventions. These themes indicate that counselors face both challenges and chances to be creative in OC, where the technological environment can restrict but also inspire innovative practices. Findings incorporating the fundamental principles of creativity with the changing dynamics of OC were discussed. This research serves as a valuable resource for mental health professionals seeking to improve their strategies for promoting creativity and optimizing the efficacy of online therapeutic practices.