Apa/Aca Web Site Critique

Glenda Gale APA/ACA Web Site Critique PSY-460-O101 Course Fundamentals of Counseling and Guidance April 7, 2013 APA/ACA Web Site Critique I first chose to look at the ACA web site. I thought a lot of things were good there. They seemed To be open to everyone’s opinions and keeping things updated yearly according to feedback they had received. They had a very long and boring list of rules but they were clear at the same time. I feel someone who didn’t have a lot of patience or time would not be able to get through all of the rules.The rules covered everything you can think of, from privacy to sexual relationships not being legal Between a client and counselor. I didn’t think it was mapped out as good as the ACA web site though. The APA web site had options right from the beginning to choose your psychological issues. For example, I chose to click on autism and everything came up that I needed to know. It went down a list of what you need to know about autism, trea tment options for autism, news articles that was about autism, and even a book section where you could choose a book to read for self- help options.Now, as for me, who has an autistic son, I found a lot of clear and understanding information on the topic. I was also pleased to find that there were different books out there that could help me understand different issues I am having with my son. Everything was plain and clear for me to understand and I didn’t have to scroll through a bunch of options that didn’t have anything to do with me or what I was looking for. This site even had an option to tell me what kind of counselor would be best for our needs.The web site helped me to see that I was not alone and that others are facing the same issues. If I had to choose between the two web sites, by which one I preferred, I would choose The APA web site for sure. It was easier to navigate and easier to understand. I know rules and Such are important and the ACA web site had an area for rule as well, but it wasn’t just all thrown In there together. Someone upset and searching for help is going to feel better with options to click on.I felt better knowing that I was reading everything there was about autism and that I didn’t have to Scroll through a bunch of other things to find what I was looking for. When I was going through the APA web site, I felt overwhelmed and lost. I couldn’t find what I was looking for and I just wasn’t Interested in staying there very long. Why is someone going to use a site that doesn’t give you options to choose from and then tell you everything you want to know about that subject only?The APA web site even has options to click on about each ethics code and read about each one individually. In being a counselor, I would find this APA web site easier too. If a client had a question about a ethics code, I could quickly click on that specific link and have their question answered as fast as th ey asked it. If someone is confused, they aren’t going to want to be more confused by reading a bunch of topics all jumbled up together. If a client came to me about a certain topic, like autism, I could quickly give them all the information they needed.I would even have a list of self -help books and what they are about to offer them to read up on the issues they might be having. If you have that information right there and ready, it’s going to show them that you know what you are doing and that would give them confidence in you if they decided they needed a counselor too. Having confidence in you counselor is important. Finding the right information is important too. Getting it quickly is even better. References: http://www. counseling. org/ http://www. apa. org/