Some people make appointments to see their therapist in
person, others choose online counseling. As a counselor and therapist who
offers both, my experience is that neither is better or worse than the other,
they are just different. Each approach to therapy has its own advantages and
benefits.
When There is No 'Body Language', the Focus is on the Therapy
Some people have an idea that because online counselors will
not see body language, they are at a disadvantage in their job and may not be
as effective as face-to-face counselors. But how significant is 'body language'
when considered against what is being said and heard? Online therapeutic
conversations actually have the potential to be more focused than a discussion
between therapist and client in the same room. The distractions of how someone
is sitting, what they are wearing and what else is going on in the room are
simply not present during online appointments.
'Body language' can of course give a counselor a better
sense of a person, but it can also be influenced by the situation in itself. A
person meeting with a therapist in an unfamiliar office might appear physically
uncomfortable, more so perhaps than if the consultation was taking place
online.
There are obviously some differences between being in the
same room as a therapist and meeting with them online. But such limitations
need to be balanced against the extra attention that words and language receive
when they are conveyed from a position of comfort and in a familiar environment
like home.
Online Counseling: Different Choices for Different People
Online counseling is not just one approach. It encompasses a
number of options which each has its own advantages.
Webcam: Face to Face Counseling over the Internet
The most recognized approach to talk therapy over the
Internet is probably webcam counseling. Webcam counseling means that you and the
therapist see each other face to face, just like if you were together in the
same room. So rather than talk about online counseling and 'face-to-face'
counseling, I like to use the terms 'online counseling' and 'in-person
counseling', because webcam counseling IS face to face.
There is no doubt many people enjoy the comfort and
convenience of meeting a therapist over webcam. You don't need to think about
transport, traffic or what you are wearing. You save time because you don't
even need to leave home. All you need is a functioning computer with webcam,
access to the internet and a quiet and private place. You can see and talk with
your therapist in confidence and relaxed in your own space. If you don't want
to be seen, you can choose to talk without the video, which is just like
telephone counseling.
Instant Messenger Counseling
Different people like the idea of therapy over the Internet
for different reasons. The convenience of not having to leave home can be
attractive but the privacy and confidentiality of online conversations are also
a drawcard for many.
Instant message software such as Skype and Windows Messenger
makes it possible to participate in therapy without being seen or heard. Typing
out your problems and having your therapist respond with questions or
reflections on what you have written can be a refreshing alternative to having
to give voice to difficult experiences. This might be quite important for
someone who experiences shyness or struggles to speak to a stranger. An
additional feature of the software is that it automatically keeps a transcript
of the conversation on your computer that you can choose to delete at any time.
The advantage here is you can read over the transcript to refresh your memory
of what was said at any time after the session has finished and refer to the
dialogue at your next appointment if you have any questions. Research has shown
that documentation of what transpired can make therapy sessions much more
effective.
Email Counseling
Email counseling has been around for some time now. It
offers the convenience of not having to leave home, the privacy of not being
seen or heard and the added advantage that you can choose to write in your own
time.
Some people feel under time pressure when they are in a room
with a therapist. This pressure disappears with email counseling. Exchanging
emails with your therapist means you can think through what you want to say,
take your time to write it and then, when you receive a reply from the
practitioner, you can read it over in your own time. Email counseling takes the
rush out of therapy. And everything the therapist says is documented, which is
another safeguard for you.
The Benefit of Options in Therapy
I have heard some critics argue that online counseling is a
poor substitute for in-person counseling, too risky or even that it should not
be legal to practice it.
We have already covered how the different approaches to
online therapy have their own advantages that may outweigh 'body language' and
other specific disadvantages in some situations. In terms of the risks or other
concerns, I think it is important to point out that internet based therapy
makes counseling and therapeutic support possible for many people who would not
otherwise be prepared to engage with a therapist.
A lot of people who have consulted me through online
appointments might not have even tried counseling if the online options were
not available. Should these people be denied access to counseling just because
they are not prepared to sit down in an unfamiliar space with a stranger they
have never met?
Online counseling and therapy are inevitably the direction
that much therapeutic practice will take in the future. Internet based talk
therapy has the potential to help many people because it is comfortable,
private and actually does put the consumer back in control.
Risk, Safety and Effectiveness in Internet Based Counseling
Despite the best attempts to try to regulate counseling
practice and therapy, paying for any service will always be, to some extent, a
matter of 'let the buyer beware'.
Choose a counselor or therapist who is a member of a
reputable professional association and insured to practice. Membership of a
professional body means the practitioner has some degree of accountability for
their work. You can also check with the association to ensure they are who they
say they are.
If you have any particular concerns, write them down and send
them to the therapist or ask for a preliminary conversation to discuss these
issues. These may include matters like qualifications, privacy and
confidentiality, technical problems and payment. I encourage people to shop
around for a counselor or therapist they feel comfortable with, just as you
would do if you needed to choose a new doctor, or mechanic or decorator.
In terms of who an online counselor should and should not
see, there are no hard and fast rules for this. In my own practice, I do not
make myself available to people who are at any significant risk or personal
danger or if there is extreme urgency to the situation. I am working with
people from all around the world so I am not in a position to easily engage
local emergency services. If the situation is one of domestic violence or
recent sexual assault for example, I direct people to contact a GP or their
nearest public hospital. Medical professionals and institutions are usually
much better resourced to find the most appropriate help for anyone in such a
situation.
Who Are the Most Suitable Clients for Online Counseling?
You don't need to be isolated or disabled or even short of
time to choose an online therapist. Meeting with a therapist or counselor over
the Internet can be just as effective as consulting a practitioner who is in
the same room. Online counseling is suitable for those with problems like
anxiety or depression, relationship issues, sexuality concerns, confidence,
shyness, addiction, career problems or burnout or difficulties with life
direction and purpose. In fact anything you might talk about with a therapist
in person can be explored with a competent and professional online therapist.
Visit http://hypnotherapist.sydney/
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