Online counselling also known as telehealth is about counselling sessions conducted online using the Internet via email, chat, voice call or video conference. Online counselling through digital mediums is no different from traditional counselling. It is as private and confidential between you and the counsellor as the face-to-face counselling, and anything discussed is held confidential.
The process and goals are also the same and the intent is to achieve them in counselling. The role of a client is as important as the role of a counsellor in this setup. A counsellor is there to listen to you carefully, help you open up and share your feelings and thoughts willingly, provide guidance and assure that you achieve your goals.
Is Online Counselling Effective?
When imagining a counselling session, many people may think of the traditional ways like sitting on a couch and talking to a counsellor. But since online counselling has been around for quite some time now, it is gaining popularity due to the ease of accessibility and a variety of other reasons.
There are also people who feel uneasy about trying online counselling as they doubt its effectiveness and think that online sessions are impersonal. However, as per some recent studies, online counselling has proved to be as effective as traditional therapy for treating many mental health issues like depression, anxiety and panic disorder, etc.
Picking a qualified counsellor and the one you are comfortable working with, is also important to overcome the challenges you are facing with your mental health.
Benefits of Online Counselling
One of the best things about online counselling is that it allows you to connect with your counselling from the comfort of your home, using an internet-enabled device convenient to do.
You can save the travel cost of going to a therapist's clinic. And if you have any kind of fear of being noticed going to a therapist's clinic due to the stigma, it's the best option for you to get help. You can have the session wherever you want from, be it your office or your house.
If your job entails constant travelling, means taking time off work will not be feasible for you. In such cases, scheduling an online counselling session is easier than finding a common time for a face-to-face session.
With online counselling, it is easier to make room for a session because the whole process is less time-consuming. You only need to pick a suitable time for you but still within your therapist’s work hours.
Getting counselling can be difficult for people in rural and remote areas because of their location. But with the availability of online counselling, it is no longer a problem now. It does not matter how far you stay from a therapist if you have an internet-connected device, you can get the help you need.
With all these benefits here, online counselling undoubtedly is an excellent option for people who feel uncomfortable in the face-to-face counselling session, those who have busy schedules and those who live in remote locations.