Electronic Family Counseling and Addressing Family Disorders: An Analytical Perspective and Applied Models in Medina, Saudi Arabia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD Researcher, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, Cairo University

2 Vice Dean for Graduate Studies and Research, Faculty of Arts, Cairo University Professor, Department of Sociology, Faculty of Arts, Cairo University

Abstract

      This study addressed the topic of "Electronic Family Counseling and Addressing Family Disorders" through an analytical perspective and applied models in the city of Medina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study aimed to understand the impact of smartphone applications in reducing family disorders by providing specialized psychological and social counseling services. The importance of the study arose in the context of social and technological changes that have imposed new patterns of interaction on contemporary societies, including the increasing reliance on digital solutions to provide psychological and family support, especially in light of the limited access to traditional counseling. The study relied on the descriptive analytical approach as the most appropriate for monitoring and analyzing the reality of the use of electronic applications in family counseling. The study sample included (100) users of electronic applications from the residents of Medina, in addition to (20) therapists and family counseling specialists. Data was collected from them using two tools: a questionnaire and personal interviews. The study relied on the functional perspective, which views electronic counseling as playing a preventive and therapeutic role in addressing family disorders. The study reached multiple findings that demonstrated the positive and effective role played by electronic applications such as "Labayh," "Istanara," and "Balsam" in providing professional family counseling, which helps reduce tensions within families and improve communication and problem-solving skills among family members. The study proposed a set of practical recommendations, most notably the need to enhance community awareness of the importance of digital family counseling, expand the scope of free or financially supported counseling for low-income families, and improve the quality of applications in terms of privacy and ease of use. It also called for training specialists to use these applications efficiently, integrating them with traditional services to achieve the required integration, and emphasizing the development of digital counseling content to keep pace with the rapid cultural and social changes in Saudi society.
 

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