Will it work for you?

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I believe that to even begin any online counselling a minimum of one or two sessions should be conducted face to face.

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That initial assessment is to allow us time to begin to understand your problems as well as building rapport and trust which I feel is vital and ethical.

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Once these initial sessions have been completed I realise that everyone has commitments, you may work away from home, have a very busy work or domestic schedule, you may want to retain your own counsellor if you have moved to another location or you need help at a vital time when you are unable to get to my practice rooms.

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This is when online therapy can prove effective.

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So how does it work?

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Online therapy is counselling that takes place remotely over the internet. I have a number of options available to you, most of you will be familiar with, all of which are freely available.

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These range from Zoom*,  Microsoft Teams, Skype and Facetime (Apple users only) for a face to face online video counselling, which are available on all devices PCs, tablets and mobile smartphones. I can also counsel using the humble telephone for voice to voice only communication.

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*for Video counselling I recommend Zoom due to its enhanced security features.

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If you are unsure how to do this I will help you with this during the first consultation.

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Is it effective?

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The effectiveness of online therapy depends on your willingness to seek help and work with a therapist.

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You must feel comfortable using different types of technology and talking to your therapist in an online environment.

 

If you are time-poor and perhaps struggle with workloads or maybe working around your children or prefer working with your therapist remotely, this might be a good choice for you.

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However, just like face-to-face counselling in a practice you need to commit to sessions with your therapist.  A date and time will be set and you will be expected to attend the session.