In this document I will try to give you some information so you can make an informed decision about this type of counselling.
First we will talk about who might benefit the most, and after that I have outlined the pros and some cons of text-based online counselling.
[I work mostly through email and chat although voice and webcam counselling is possible as well]
Please read it carefully and decide if it is a style that appeals to you.
If you have any more questions please feel free to contact me.
There are many ways of working online and you can benefit from online counselling as long as you are motivated, want to engage in the process, and have an interest in working online.
You may benefit more easily if you are comfortable with typing, being and working online, and can manage potential technological challenges along the way.
Importantly, you need to think about how you can engage in the process from a safe place.
Whether you do it from home, from work, or somewhere else, you need to find a place where you can work in privacy.
Online counselling may be especially beneficial for you if you are very sensitive to the presence of others, or have experienced emotional trauma or judgement from others.
In this case, online counselling may turn out to be an easier first step to open up.
If you have a physical handicap that prevents you from leaving your house, online counselling may be especially beneficial.
On the other hand, it may just be beneficial because it suits your work schedule or family life better.
If you have a severe mental disorder (e.g. if you have a diagnosed symptom and are on medication) or drug addiction (e.g. alcohol or hash) I would need to know this and assess whether you could benefit from this type of work.
In both cases it may be relevant to discuss our work together with your doctor or nurse.
If you are in crisis or thinking about suicide then you should seek out help from your doctor or contact the following organization online:
On this page you can select your country and find appropriate immediate help.
Pro's and con's of online counselling
Pros | Cons |
| · It may be more economic for you. | · You may be concerned about the security of cyberspace communication. Although we can use encrypted emails. |
| · You do not have to leave your home in order to engage in therapy and even when you travel you can still reach your therapist as long as you have an internet connection. | · You may find it hard to create your own private space at home where you can engage in therapy. |
| · You may experience that it is easier to express emotions (especially negative emotions) and that it will be easier for you to open up about your main problems and concerns. Much research demonstrates this pattern in online communication. | · Normally we use a lot of non-verbal cues (body language) to explain what we mean when we communicate. Especially in text-based communication, we do not have these additional cues. Therefore, you may experience that there is a higher risk of miscommunication. We will, of course, take steps to minimise this risk, but you need to be aware of this. |
| · You have the opportunity to record all of our exchanges and this way you can go back to earlier sessions during and after therapy. | · You need to find a safe way to store the records of our exchange. If you share your computer with someone else this is especially important. |
| · We do not have to schedule a specific appointment time. You can reply to me when you are ready and it is convenient for you. | |
| · You have time to reflect and edit your reply | · The increased time to reflect, may come with a loss of spontaneous communication. |
| · You may email me anytime. Thus if you experience the need to share something from your day you can send me an e-mail. | · There will be a time gap between our emails, and thus we have to wait for each other’s responses. This waiting time can sometimes be challenging. |
I hope this little document has made it easier for you to decide if online therapy is for you.
Do let me know if anything is unclear or you have any questions or concerns that I might help you with. Email.
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