What is online counselling?
In some ways, online counselling is rather like traditional (also known as ‘face-to-face’) counselling or therapy.
Both online and face-to-face counsellors will offer you their non-judgemental respect, empathy and support. They will encourage you to explore what is causing you to feel so troubled. They will then help you to focus on exactly what is wrong, so that you can achieve new ways of understanding your problem. This may involve a process of listening, problem solving and challenging, so that you can deal with the problems more effectively in the future. Both traditional and online counselling can also help you to feel emotionally stronger, and clients often have higher self-esteem at the end of counselling. In both environments it is a safe and confidential space just for you.
If you choose to have counselling online, which is sometimes known as e-therapy, you don’t need to visit a counsellor’s workplace to meet them in person. Instead, the counselling session will take place using the internet, either in a private chatroom, or by video or by email.
It can sometimes be difficult to decide whether online counselling is appropriate for you. The reality is, that as with many things it can be very helpful for some people and not so helpful to others. As a guide you might find it helpful to look at the following list:
Online counselling can be helpful if …
- You have a disability. You wouldn’t have to travel and you could conserve your energy.
- Your time is very limited, or you work irregular hours. There aren’t usually long waiting lists and there is usually more flexibility when seeing an online counsellor.
- You like expressing yourself via text and computer.
- Prefer to consider what you want to say and read back on the exchanges
- Cant leave your home easily because you are a carer or have young children
- You feel very ashamed or embarrassed about talking to a counsellor face-to-face.
- You may feel more able to talk freely about sensitive issues online.
Online counselling might be less helpful...
- You are suicidal or suffer from an enduring mental illness.
- You are visually impaired.
- You prefer face-to-face contact.
- You are not comfortable with using a computer or expressing yourself in text