Who is online counselling for
Like any form of therapy, some approaches may suit some people more than others.
Here are some of the potential advantages and disadvantages which might help you determine if online counselling would work well for you.
Advantages of online counselling
Flexibility
You don’t need to leave home, or conversely you can attend sessions whilst travelling. All you need is your own computer or tablet, a secure and reliable internet connection and a private space for the duration of the session.
Choice
It can be difficult to find a therapist you would prefer to work with, particularly if you live in an isolated location or one with few therapists working in different ways. Working online gives you access to a wide range of therapists and approaches.
Accessibility
Online therapy can be work well for clients who may find it hard to get out to see a therapist face to face. This might be due to:
A client may find it easier to open up and engage more freely in online therapy. They may also find it liberating to speak to someone completely separate from their community. This can be particularly relevant for clients engaging with issues around their identity such as gender or sexuality.
Client responsibility
Online therapy returns some responsibility back to the client for their privacy and management of their sessions.
It requires the client to find a quiet, private space to conduct their session and to consider the security of their computer and personal information. This can initially feel challenging, however it can also be usefully educational for those less confident about online security, as a competent online therapist will be able to advise on requirements and good online safety. It can also support a disciplined self-awareness of your own space and privacy and how you create this with others, which can aid the therapeutic process as a whole.
Disadvantages
Not suitable for everyone
Like any other form of counselling or psychotherapy, online therapy is not suitable for everyone. It is not recommended for clients who are experiencing serious mental health problems, are in crisis and actively suicidal, or self-harming regularly.
It may also not be suitable for clients whose presenting issues suggest they may have difficulty sustaining a shared sense of reality with the external world. This includes, but is not limited to, forms of psychosis and some psychiatric conditions. It may not suitable for clients currently managing substance or alcohol dependencies.
If you are in crisis and need help now, you can find more information and more support at my links page here.
Resistance
Whilst online therapy can help some clients feel able to open up more freely, it can also make it easier to evade and ‘disappear’ when difficult issues come up. This can be a very useful part of the therapy if the therapist is experienced enough to identify this supportively with the client and if the client is prepared to challenge and work through their resistance.
International Limitations
Whilst the potential to work with therapeutic clients and supervisees based in other countries around the world is an exciting advantage to online work; it is important that the therapist is mindful of the cultural impact this brings to the work, and of legal limitations some countries impose on international therapy.
This is a topic I have written on extensively and an area of particular interest in my practice and research. It should be noted that for regulatory reasons, I cannot work with clients based in USA or Canada. If you are based outside the UK and are interested in working with me, please enquire via email or the contact form, providing further information.
Here are some of the potential advantages and disadvantages which might help you determine if online counselling would work well for you.
Advantages of online counselling
Flexibility
You don’t need to leave home, or conversely you can attend sessions whilst travelling. All you need is your own computer or tablet, a secure and reliable internet connection and a private space for the duration of the session.
Choice
It can be difficult to find a therapist you would prefer to work with, particularly if you live in an isolated location or one with few therapists working in different ways. Working online gives you access to a wide range of therapists and approaches.
Accessibility
Online therapy can be work well for clients who may find it hard to get out to see a therapist face to face. This might be due to:
- disabilities making travel and accessibility to counselling premises challenging
- caring commitments to others limiting time away from home
- living in an isolated location making a weekly journey to a therapist expensive and time consuming
A client may find it easier to open up and engage more freely in online therapy. They may also find it liberating to speak to someone completely separate from their community. This can be particularly relevant for clients engaging with issues around their identity such as gender or sexuality.
Client responsibility
Online therapy returns some responsibility back to the client for their privacy and management of their sessions.
It requires the client to find a quiet, private space to conduct their session and to consider the security of their computer and personal information. This can initially feel challenging, however it can also be usefully educational for those less confident about online security, as a competent online therapist will be able to advise on requirements and good online safety. It can also support a disciplined self-awareness of your own space and privacy and how you create this with others, which can aid the therapeutic process as a whole.
Disadvantages
Not suitable for everyone
Like any other form of counselling or psychotherapy, online therapy is not suitable for everyone. It is not recommended for clients who are experiencing serious mental health problems, are in crisis and actively suicidal, or self-harming regularly.
It may also not be suitable for clients whose presenting issues suggest they may have difficulty sustaining a shared sense of reality with the external world. This includes, but is not limited to, forms of psychosis and some psychiatric conditions. It may not suitable for clients currently managing substance or alcohol dependencies.
If you are in crisis and need help now, you can find more information and more support at my links page here.
Resistance
Whilst online therapy can help some clients feel able to open up more freely, it can also make it easier to evade and ‘disappear’ when difficult issues come up. This can be a very useful part of the therapy if the therapist is experienced enough to identify this supportively with the client and if the client is prepared to challenge and work through their resistance.
International Limitations
Whilst the potential to work with therapeutic clients and supervisees based in other countries around the world is an exciting advantage to online work; it is important that the therapist is mindful of the cultural impact this brings to the work, and of legal limitations some countries impose on international therapy.
This is a topic I have written on extensively and an area of particular interest in my practice and research. It should be noted that for regulatory reasons, I cannot work with clients based in USA or Canada. If you are based outside the UK and are interested in working with me, please enquire via email or the contact form, providing further information.