Online counselling therapy is a way for you to engage in counselling using internet technology such as email, online chat, telephone or webcam video. You direct your counselling by selecting the method of communication you feel most comfortable with. You choose the time, the place and the pace of your counselling to suit your needs. Every effort is made to provide a safe and secure environment for your online therapy with encryption software to protect your confidentiality and secure. I am only able to provide online counselling within England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. I offer telephone, webcam video counselling via Zoom and email counselling.
How does it work?
Webcam counselling
Zoom is a way for you to see me, as your counsellor, face-to-face from your computer whilst engaging in therapy. You will be guided through setting up your own encrypted Zoom account and you we will meet on Zoom at a time that we have previously arranged. Sessions are 50 minutes in length. Being able to see me gives you more of the benefits you get from face-to-face counselling but with the convenience of online therapy. We can see and hear each other which benefits the therapeutic process and relationship. We can use some Zoom features to use creative therapeutic interventions.
Email counselling
Counselling using email offers you the opportunity to consider what you wish to say before you send it as well as time between exchanges to reflect on the information you have received. I will guide you in how to set up a secure email account and then we will have a set amount of therapeutic email exchanges. Sometimes, by agreement, we can use email counselling between your more structured sessions of telephone or webcam counselling. Something for you to consider with email counselling is the time delay between your email and my response. I will be clear on the timescale that you can expect.
Telephone counselling
I can offer this through ringing you on your mobile phone or landline. Alernatively, we can use the Zoom system with the camera turned off, either for you or for both of us. An advantage of Zoom is that the conversation is encrypted. An advantage of telephone counselling is that I can pick up on your non-verbal communication which can be carried in you tone of voice or the pace of speech . A disadvantage of telephone counselling is that you need a private room where you will not be overheard..
Online counselling offers certain benefits but there are also limitations that are worth bearing in mind when deciding which type of therapy will best suit your needs.
Some points to bear in mind, should you be considering whether it's for you....
Benefits
Some more things to consider.......
Confidentiality Online
Counselling therapy take place within a secure, encrypted environment to offer you confidentiality and safety.
Therapeutic email correspondence is encouraged through a secure mail server. I will instruct you on how to set up a confidential email account for your counselling therapy.
Telephone and webcam counselling take advantage of the encrypted services offered by Zoom and I will guide you through setting up a free account for your therapy.
Equipment required/technical recommendations
Where you choose verbally based video or telephone counselling, it is much better for you to be using a headset. These are economical to buy. They aid clarity of sound and require you not to have to talk loudly, so may aid confidentiality in your home environment .I will also wear a head set and work from a secure and private therapy space.
Online counselling therapy is a way for you to engage in counselling using internet technology such as email, online chat, telephone or webcam video. You direct your counselling by selecting the method of communication you feel most comfortable with. You choose the time, the place and the pace of your counselling to suit your needs. Every effort is made to provide a safe and secure environment for your online therapy with encryption software to protect your confidentiality and secure. I am only able to provide online counselling within England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. I offer telephone, webcam video counselling via Zoom and email counselling.
How does it work?
Webcam counselling
Zoom is a way for you to see me, as your counsellor, face-to-face from your computer whilst engaging in therapy. You will be guided through setting up your own encrypted Zoom account and you we will meet on Zoom at a time that we have previously arranged. Sessions are 50 minutes in length. Being able to see me gives you more of the benefits you get from face-to-face counselling but with the convenience of online therapy. We can see and hear each other which benefits the therapeutic process and relationship. We can use some Zoom features to use creative therapeutic interventions.
Email counselling
Counselling using email offers you the opportunity to consider what you wish to say before you send it as well as time between exchanges to reflect on the information you have received. I will guide you in how to set up a secure email account and then we will have a set amount of therapeutic email exchanges. Sometimes, by agreement, we can use email counselling between your more structured sessions of telephone or webcam counselling. Something for you to consider with email counselling is the time delay between your email and my response. I will be clear on the timescale that you can expect.
Telephone counselling
I can offer this through ringing you on your mobile phone or landline. Alernatively, we can use the Zoom system with the camera turned off, either for you or for both of us. An advantage of Zoom is that the conversation is encrypted. An advantage of telephone counselling is that I can pick up on your non-verbal communication which can be carried in you tone of voice or the pace of speech . A disadvantage of telephone counselling is that you need a private room where you will not be overheard..
Online counselling offers certain benefits but there are also limitations that are worth bearing in mind when deciding which type of therapy will best suit your needs.
Some points to bear in mind, should you be considering whether it's for you....
Benefits
- Completely safe for both of us from Covid 19. You stay safe in your own home, with no transport concerns to consider.
- Counselling therapy from your own home at a time that suits you
- Secure inscription software offers confidentiality and peace of mind
- No chance that you may be seen entering my therapy space.
- When using email counselling, you are able to review what you are saying before sending
- Therapy at a time, place and pace that suits you
- Some find it easier to express their feelings by writing them down
- Flexibility to chose the technology you feel is best for you: telephone, email, or webcam
Some more things to consider.......
- Are you comfortable (with help, if required) using internet technology?
- Would you prefer to see your counsellor face-to-face?
- Do you feel you can express your feelings effectively using words?
- Do you feel your situation is too complex to discuss via the inter
- net?
- Is there a computer terminal that you can use privately without interruption
- In telephone and email counselling here are no non-verbal cues or body language for us to read and this can lead to misunderstanding.
Confidentiality Online
Counselling therapy take place within a secure, encrypted environment to offer you confidentiality and safety.
Therapeutic email correspondence is encouraged through a secure mail server. I will instruct you on how to set up a confidential email account for your counselling therapy.
Telephone and webcam counselling take advantage of the encrypted services offered by Zoom and I will guide you through setting up a free account for your therapy.
Equipment required/technical recommendations
Where you choose verbally based video or telephone counselling, it is much better for you to be using a headset. These are economical to buy. They aid clarity of sound and require you not to have to talk loudly, so may aid confidentiality in your home environment .I will also wear a head set and work from a secure and private therapy space.