ONLINE COUNSELLING
ACCESSING ONLINE COUNSELLING
Online counselling can offer access to therapeutic services to people who do not want, or have less time to travel. It can fit into a busy schedule more easily. It also suits people based in more remote areas, or those with physical limitations who cannot access counselling in person.
HOW IT WORKS
It’s important to ensure that when you contact me to arrange an initial consultation, we have a brief conversation ahead of any appointment being agreed. That way, we can break the ice and feel comfortable that we would be a good fit at this stage. It also allows me to confirm that if I have the availability you may want for any on-going weekly counselling.
Once we’ve had a call and agreed the date and time for your initial online consultation, I’ll provide details on how to access our online sessions.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
The world of online therapy can be an anxiety inducing process. Key questions about how to proceed, confidentiality, how to navigate technology, and whether this type of counselling is as effective as face to face sessions are commonplace queries shared by many.
Online therapy can be useful for a variety of situations, but it is not suitable for everyone. For those clients who may want to explore and learn about themselves, or for those needing help with life concerns or mental health issues, this type of counselling can be extremely useful. For people who may be struggling with more serious psychiatric illnesses that require close and direct treatment, online therapy would not work or be recommended as an effective mode of treatment.
IS AN ONLINE PLATFORM CONFIDENTIAL?
Counselling works largely because therapists ensure that clients have a safe, private space to share deeply personal and sometimes challenging experiences, thoughts, or emotions. As with face to face therapy, everything that is said and done is confidential, with the exception of a few situations which will have been agreed between us as part of our contract. The applications used to conduct online counselling sessions are Skype or Zoom. These platforms adhere to the Data Protection Act 1988 and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2018.