What is online counselling?

Online counselling is simply counselling done using an internet connection. It can be synchronous (happening in real time), such as over a video call, or asynchronous (where the counsellor and client aren’t necessarily engaging at the same time) for example email or text counselling where there might be a delay in responding.

What online services do I offer?

I offer counselling via video call, audio counselling (using video conferencing software but with cameras turned off), chat room counselling and email counselling.

Does online counselling work as well as face-to-face?

A 2016 review of existing research into online therapy found no difference in effectiveness between online and face-to-face therapy from the client’s perspective. They expected to find differences in the relationship formed between the therapist and client but this wasn’t the case. Some studies have found slight reductions in effectiveness for certain types of counselling (for example psychodynamic). Certain conditions also respond differently to online therapy – for example for people with social anxiety, online therapy was found to be more effective than in-person.

However, whether online counselling works for you or not is very personal to you. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach and there are many factors that can affect its effectiveness in your life.

What are the benefits of online counselling?

• Good for people who live in rural or remote areas as no need to travel
• Good for people with certain disabilities or chronic health conditions which mean it’s difficult to leave the house or travel
• Good for people with social anxiety, agoraphobia or shame as can be done in your own space and can have the camera off if needed
• Save time in not having to commute to a therapy room
• Confidential – can’t be seen entering or leaving the counselling room
• Chat room or email counselling is good for those who process things best by writing them down or perhaps struggle with verbal communication
• Flexibility to choose which type of online counselling you want that week – gives you choice
• Beneficial for those who are non-speaking/non-verbal

Who wouldn’t benefit from online counselling?

• Those with no access to devices or the internet
• Those who aren’t comfortable using technology
• Those who prefer face-to-face
• Those with no access to a private distraction-free space
• Those who would struggle without non-verbal communication and body language
• Those who feel their situation is too complicated to discuss over the internet
• Text-based counselling may not be suitable for those who struggle to communicate in writing
• Those with hearing loss would likely not benefit from video call or telephone counselling

Also, people with the following issues would likely not benefit from online counselling due to the additional risk involved in working online:

• Those who are suicidal
• Those with eating disorders
• Those with personality disorders
• Those in a current domestic abuse relationship
• Those in active addiction
• Those with severe mental health issues
• Those who are currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital

How does it work?

Counselling via video call

You will be sent a link in advance of your session and will be given guidance on how to use the online videoconferencing platform. You will be able to see your counsellor and communicate just the same as with face-to-face counselling. Sessions last 50 minutes. To use this service you will need a computer with a webcam and built-in microphone or you can use mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. You will need a stable internet connection. You may need to download an app and create an account to get the best service. As you will be speaking, you will need a private space where you won’t be overheard. Sessions last 50 minutes.

Audio counselling

The set-up is similar to the video call above but with cameras switched off the entire time. You won’t need access to a webcam but you will still need a computer or mobile device with a microphone, a stable internet connection and a space where you won’t be overheard. Sessions last 50 minutes.

Email counselling

You send me an email of up to 750 words by an agreed day each week. I then reply to you in up to 750 words by an agreed day each week. You will need access to a device to send the emails from, an email provider and an internet connection. I will be using a secure email account, and you may wish to do the same for peace of mind. All the information that you need will be sent to you when you sign up for email counselling.

Chatroom counselling

This is text-based only. You will be sent a link and secure login in advance of your session and will log in at the agreed time. We will then spend 50 minutes chatting. You won’t need a webcam or microphone for this, only an internet connection and a device to chat from.

What’s your training to be able to offer this service?

On top of my counselling training, I’ve also done an 80-hour course specifically on online and telephone counselling.

What about confidentiality?

There are a few things to think about when it comes to confidentiality when having online counselling.

Firstly, are you being overheard? Because you’re attending counselling from your own home, I can’t guarantee that it’s a private confidential space. It’s important that you can go somewhere where you won’t be listened to. Even if you’re having email counselling, it’s important to consider whether someone else can access your computer and email account and read what you’ve written. I would also recommend using a secure email provider like Proton Mail or Hush Mail for this.

Secondly, where you’re having counselling from your home, if you’re having video counselling, I will be able to see into the room you’re in. It’s important to consider how you feel about this and whether you want to remove items from the room or blur the background (the secure video conferencing platform that I use doesn’t yet allow you to add and image to the background but does have the option to blur your background). I may also overhear sounds from your home so using headphones is an option.

There are other ways you can make the counselling as confidential as possible, for example by removing notification details from your phone lock screen and wiping your browser history.

I do everything I can to ensure the privacy of our sessions. For example, I use the most secure software available and always use headphones so that I can’t be overheard, even though I’m in a private room.

How secure is online counselling?

I will always take steps to ensure that our online sessions, our contact between sessions and the storage of your data are as secure and private as possible, and I will always use the most secure methods possible. However, there are always risks when using third-party software, for example the software provider may have a data breach, and I am unable to prevent these. I can never guarantee that it will be 100% secure because this is outside my control.

Why do you need to know where I am?

This is for your safety. I have a duty of care towards you during our sessions, even when we’re not in the same room together. Therefore, if something happened to you or I believed you were in danger, I would need to contact the emergency services.

Will sessions be recorded?

I would never record a counselling session without your consent. Your confidentiality is my priority. I ask that you also don’t record the sessions without getting consent from me at least a week in advance.

Can I do online therapy anonymously?

No. Although you can choose to do the counselling without being seen by me, I still need to know your name, contact details and some other details about you for legal and ethical reasons.

If it’s online, does that mean I can have counselling from my country?

I only offer counselling to clients in the United Kingdom – England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This is because the laws and training requirements are different in different countries.