Is Online Counselling as good as face-to-face Counselling?
Online Counselling can be as effective and useful to the client if you are comfortable using technology to communicate and have the same commitment and motivation to engage in counselling.
It is possible to have a therapeutic relationship online.
The way that the counselling takes place certainly changes the nature of the communication, however, it is equally possible to work effectively with problems using this medium.
Working online is very different and may not suit all clients (or counsellors).
The most notable differences are: the lack of physical presence in the room, the potential for the disinhibition effect – where you may disclose more, sooner than you might with face to face counselling, the lack of spontaneity in email counselling, your ability to explore issues which you may find difficult whilst using technology, the increased potential for misunderstandings when using text, differences in the way confidentiality and security is addressed, plus increased accessibility/flexibility regarding your physical location and sessions.
All our online counsellors have additional training to manage the technology and communicating in this way, this is in line with our Ethical Framework for Good Practice as accredited individual and organisational members of our professional body The British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP).