Avatar-based counselling for psychological distress in secondary school pupils: pilot evaluation

ABSTRACT
This study is a pilot evaluation of a new avatar-based therapeutic toolProReal, with psychologically distressed young people within a school setting. In total, 54 young people, aged 12–18 years old, participated inface-to-face avatar-based counselling. Young people used the software to represent themselves and others, their problems and emotions. The primary outcome measure was the Young Person’s CORE (YP-CORE). The
avatar-based counselling intervention was feasible to implement and acceptable to clients, with 90% rating the help that they received as good, and less than 20% dropout. The intervention was associated with small to medium reductions in psychological distress, psychological difficulties and conduct problems. These improvements, however, were
significant for male clients only. Outcomes were greater for counsellors who spent more time in training and using the ProReal software.