In common with many counsellors, I am currently doing all my work with clients online. This is something I used to do now and then, if a face to face session wasn’t possible for some reason, but now that it is my daily mode of working, my clients and I have got to know the ins and outs of it better.
I’m pleased to say that online counselling works really well, and has much in common with face to face counselling. The quality of communication is the same, and clients are still able to talk in depth about whatever they want to. Some clients even find that because they’re in the comfort of their own homes, they can open up a little more.
Personally I appreciate being able to see my client as well as hear them. I think it’s great that we can both see each others’ reactions to things that are said, as well as gauge tone of voice and the emotions underneath the words.
In common with face to face counselling, once we have arranged a time and day for our session, we usually keep to that until the client is ready to finish counselling. Having a regular slot each week is incredibly helpful to most clients in terms of getting into the issues they want to discuss and experimenting with new ways forward.
And just like in face to face counselling, we talk about progress as we go along. Some clients just want a handful of sessions, and some keep on working with me for longer. It really is open-ended.
One thing I’ve had to think about with online counselling, is how we get connected. I’ve found both WhatsApp and Zoom to be very reliable and useful, and prefer WhatsApp for ease of starting a session. However, I will always work with what a client feels most comfortable using, so if their preference is for Skype or good old fashioned telephone calls, I will work with that.
Something I’ve set up with online clients is a “plan B” - or what we’ll do if the wi-fi fails at either end. If we can’t continue with a session because of connectivity problems, we agree in advance whether we’ll reschedule, settle for a telephone call or perhaps do some text chat. Clients have different preferences and I hope to be flexible enough to go with whichever plan B best suits. I must add though that connectivity issues haven’t stopped a session in its tracks yet. It’s just good to be prepared for it, and it’s important that clients know that I would never intentionally disconnect from them.
In many ways, online counselling can be easier for clients. There’s no travel to consider, we can connect at the touch of a button, and they are in their home environment the whole time (sometimes when a session has been really in depth or emotional, this can be a real benefit).
However, these days, many people are finding it hard to find enough privacy to make a video call to their counsellor without being overheard. Knowing that your session is confidential frees you up to explore how you feel: counselling isn’t going to be much use without that guarantee. Money is an issue too - many people are now unable to work, so they may want sessions but can’t afford them. In common with most counsellors, I will always negotiate a fee based on circumstances, and have felt especially strongly about this during the Covid-19 crisis.
If you’re wondering about trying online counselling, I would advise giving it a try. If it’s not for you, you can always shelve it for later, when you’ll be able to meet a counsellor in person. We are facing an unprecedented and stressful set of circumstances right now, and being able to access some counselling could make a real difference to how you cope and your mental health. You can search for qualified and insured counsellors on the BACP directory here or you’re very welcome to get in touch with me here.
