According to The World Health Organization, 70% of countries offer remote counseling. In studies conducted by Northwestern University in the US, the University of Leipzig in Germany, and other credible academic institutions, online counseling is basically as effective as in-person treatment. There was little difference found in how much the client shared, empathy, focus, and engagement. One of the clearest differences is that remote sessions are typically shorter.

Dr. Carla Croft from the UK’s NHS expressed appreciation for the benefits of remote counseling: “People now often consult with me on lunch breaks, in the car, or in the quiet room of the company, and of course many people work from home, so there is more privacy between colleagues than ever before, and the time is more flexible. This means that people in employment can more easily receive consultation.”

Despite the flexibility, there are times when clients are unwilling to turn on their video cameras, which means counselors miss clues from facial expressions and body language. However, when clients are willing and cooperative, the advantages are that counselors can see the former’s home setting and that the client can have their support network relatively close by.

During the COVID lockdown in Taiwan, schooling has transferred to virtual platforms; however, counseling for under-18s has not. The Taiwan Counseling Psychological Union (TCPU) estimated that at least 30,000 students have been stripped of their access to counseling due to the limitation of servicing people over the age of 18, mentioned in the Principle for Psychologists executing commercial remote counseling.

On the 1 July, 2021, The Garden of Hope along with TCPU held a press conference inviting representatives from the Taiwan Guidance and Counseling Association, Taiwan Counseling Psychology Association, National Alliance of Parents Organization, legislators, CHUANG Ching-cheng, FAN Yun, Lai Pin-Yu, and city councilor LIN Ying-Meng requesting the government to unbar all restrictions to remote counseling during the pandemic and to make amendments in the bills accordingly.