The World Health Organization categorised the Corona virus as a public health emergency of international concern. As a result of this declaration, a raft of procedures to stem the spread of the virus to safeguard the health and safety of its citizens was enacted by the Australian Government. The promotion of social isolation and distancing were among these measures. The governmental social distancing measures put in place in Australia resulted in a curtailing of face-to-face work and moving to online service delivery for many agencies who provide counselling for children/young people who have experienced maltreatment. This article presents the findings of a review of the literature on the pertinent ethical issues in relation to online counselling. The results of the review highlighted common ethical issues discussed across the literature, with a major gap in the literature focusing on issues for children and young people and a continued privileging of the adult voice over children and young people’s needs.

There is an increasing interest in a holistic approach to therapy with families that includes integrating spirituality into theoretical and practice approaches. However, many practitioners feel ill-equipped to narrow the gap between the clinical and the spiritual. This article explores an ancient Celtic Irish spiritual framework and its applicability to 21st-century therapists. It focuses on the role of the Anam _ Cara from the Celtic world. The Anam _ Cara was a person of wisdom to whom people turned to for guidance, advice, and healing. This paper contends that the Anam _ Cara of the ancient Celtic world is akin to the therapists of today. The Celtic Irish saw the spiritual context in all occasions and regarded all forms of work as sacred. This paper examines this sacred work. It looks at the language, rituals, and imagination of the Anam _ Cara, translating these ancient practices for therapists to utilise to enhance their holistic approach to treatment.1 This paper discusses Celtic Irish spirituality, in particular, the notion of Anam _ Cara (soul friend) in terms of 21st-century therapy. 2 Fundamental to the spiritually charged nature of life for the Celtic Irish was the notion that all work is sacred and must be sanctified with the reverence of words. 3 Professional speak of diagnosis and disorder does not bring us closer to the truth of someone's lived experience or how to be with them. 4 The therapist must be mindful of the energy and language they bring to the work; the energy we carry with us in our bodies, hearts, and thoughts becomes part of therapy, for example, a belief in 'dysfunctional' people will be transferred into the work. 5 If a therapist wishes to relieve people of the chaotic forces of problems and challenges then they must bring only energy that can act as an antidote, for example, compassion, serenity, beauty. Honouring the sacred nature of all work is the context within which these healing energies are created. 6 Blessings or sacred words are the clothes that can wrap the family as they transverse the territory of change.The Irish word Beannacht means blessing and greeting. In the Irish Celtic way, meeting someone and uttering words of salutation is a spiritual act of acknowledging their sacred presence. Moreover, to write about spiritualty is a spiritual act. The introduction section of this paper is me, the writer, greeting you, my professional colleagues. Therefore a Beannacht must be performed.

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