I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "on line" counseling. If you are talking about using some on line service, I don't know how you would verify their credentials or whether or not the counselor is a good fit with you. If you mean something like Skype or Face Time where there is a direct visual but your aren't in the same room, I think it might work. I have a friend who does a specialized kind of study with a clergy member this way, and it seems to work (although they have had many in-office interactions in the past). But I think the visual is essential - otherwise people would get counseling by phone - you'd have the immediate conversational action, but no ability to judge body language or to assess what the pauses mean (is someone thinking, is she angry, is she sobbing, did she get disconnected?). If you are talking about some sort of "email" back-and-forth, I think it would be a total failure. There's no ability to stop the "monologue" which is what it would be instead of a dialogue, and to ask for more clarification or be able to pick up on something in an immediate way. But without knowing more what you have in mind, I can't say more. I've done face-to-face only and have found it invaluable.