Webcoaching - an alternative and complementary form of meeting individuals with Neuropsychiatric Disorders Emma Nilsson & Stefan Lodestad

Introduction Misa A private company Misa provides work-oriented daycare activities for people with disabilities Gives support to >1000 clients Operates in 5 cities in Sweden, mainly in Stockholm

Reasons to participate Psychological well-being Need for structure in meetings Difficulties with social interaction Difficulty remembering what was said Prefer written information Long and expensive travel distances

Webcoaching Time: January June 2012 Title: Webcoaching as a tool for communication Participants: Employment specialists and clients from units in Stockholm focusing on support to persons with Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Performance Clients chosen due to expected need for alternative communication Measurements performed in questionnaires and a workshop Chat sessions were booked with concern to individual needs and schedules

Case examples Case 1: Working full time, 1½ h from Misa office – no time for meetings. Chat sessions held before work hours. Case 2: Absence from meetings for 6 months due to anxiety and panic disorder. Chat sessions a good start to communicate.

Case examples Case 3: Becomes very stressed from too much social interaction – takes too much energy and thereby doesn’t remember the information. Every other meeting as chat sessions decreases the anxiety.

Questions/hypotheses Do clients experience the possibility to use webcoaching as a development of the quality, concerning job support? Do clients experience the possibility to use webcoaching as a development of the quality, concerning screening and introduction?

Questions/hypotheses Do employment specialists experience the possibility to use webcoaching as a useful tool in their daily work?

Positive experiences A way to increase attendance A concrete and explicit form of meeting Good complement to other forms of communication

Lessons learned Not recommended as the only method for meetings, use it as complement Clients always in a development process - not constant mood and situation in life. Evaluate and customize benefits frequently Not suitable for everyone or in every situation

Next step Employment specialists are continuing to use webcoaching at work Plans for a new project – using webcoaching as support while client gets an employment and ”regular support” ends (Swedish system)

Thank you Emma Nilsson: Stefan Lodestad: