What are Online Counselling or Therapy, E-Counseling, E-therapy, and E-mail Counseling?
• Online counselling or therapy, e-therapy, e-counseling, and email counseling all describe the same thing - counseling services which are provided online.
• Online therapy, like face-to-face therapy, is a dialogue between you and your therapist to assist you in dealing with problems and to encourage your personal growth.
• You will receive a therapist's understanding, support, questions, information, feedback, and, sometimes, strategies to help you with your problems.
• While counseling online is different than in-person, it has been shown to be quite effective for many people.
• Online therapy is provided through email correspondence or chat rooms. Some online clients choose to talk over the phone as well, and with my toll free number there are no additional charges.
• Some people choose to have only a few email exchanges with a therapist; sometimes called consultation or advice. Others develop a relationship with a therapist by writing emails back and forth, or talking in a chat room over an extended period of time. Developing a therapeutic relationship, whether online or in-person, leads to a deeper exploration of issues.
• It's up to you to decide what you want, however some problems can't be resolved without an ongoing therapeutic relationship, and some can't be resolved online. If you have problems that might be better dealt with in-person but you don't feel you can or want to, online counseling might be a good place to begin.
Why Online Counselling?
• Online counseling can be an effective way to receive support and guidance to work on your problems.
Reasons People Choose Online Counseling:
• Some people choose online counseling over face-to-face therapy because they're more comfortable with writing, and feel they can be more honest and open about their problems. Some people find online counseling gives them a way to talk about things that they might not have otherwise talked about.
• Many people find email counseling preferable because it gives them time to think through what they need to say, and the opportunity to read and re-read their therapist's responses.
• While others prefer online counseling in real-time (with instant messaging) because it combines the advantages of email counseling with the immediacy of the therapist's responses. And both mediums allow you to converse in the comfort of your own home.
Online Therapy: How Does It Work?
Chat or Instant Messaging
• Online counseling using instant messaging is very similar to seeing a therapist in-person. First, we make an appointment to meet in a private chat room. When we meet, you tell me how you're feeling, what is bothering you, or anything else you need to talk about. I listen, offer support and understanding, ask questions, and give you feedback, and strategies if I think they may be helpful to you.
• As we meet more times, we'll develop a closer, more comfortable, relationship that will help you to delve more deeply into what's bothering you, and allow me to be more helpful to you. If you like, we can even talk on the phone toll free. My fee for phone sessions is the same as it is for chat.
• If you would like to make an appointment with me, email me. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. I will answer all of your questions free of charge.
E-Counseling with Emails
Counseling with emails involves our writing back and forth to each other discussing what is bothering you. Some people choose to consult only once or twice while others choose to have an ongoing therapeutic email relationship. If you're unsure what to say or where to begin, you can use the following as a guide. Briefly describe:
- the present situation or problem; examples are helpful
- some background
- how you have dealt with it
- what you think and feel about it
- your questions for me
Couples Therapy Online
• Couples can receive therapy online as well. There are many ways to do this. You can each write your own email, you can write an email together, you can write to each other in an email and send me a copy, or all three of us can meet and chat at the same time.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Therapy
- you may feel freer to be yourself online
- you may feel more comfortable receiving therapy in the privacy of your home
- you may feel more comfortable writing about your problems than talking about them
- you may write about what is bothering you sooner than if you were talking - this can bring faster resolutions to problems
- writing may help you to think through your problems and to feel your emotions - it can bring focus, clarity, insight, and emotional relief
- you can read and re-read your emails, and chat transcripts
- writing enhances your relationship with yourself
- there are more therapists to choose from online
- you can email your therapist any time of day
- you can take as long as you want to write
- online therapists don't have access to important information about you without face-to-face sessions, however, having phone sessions as well can provide your therapist with more information
- there can be more misunderstandings by email and therefore a greater need to explain things and ask questions. This can be an advantage too as it encourages our being clear and asking questions - something some people are afraid to do in-person
- some problems cannot be resolved online
- confidentiality cannot be "guaranteed" over the internet
- online therapy is relatively new - although writing as a form of support is not new - and so it's still in its infancy as a form of therapy
Confidentiality
• I keep all information you give me strictly confidential. Whether online or in-person, your confidentiality is a priority for me. There can be some exceptions to this -- if you plan to kill yourself, or hurt another person. However, at all times, I do my very best to work with you to find the best possible solution to keep you, and others, safe.
• In terms of your confidentiality when corresponding with me, I am the only one who has access to my computer and I keep my computer secure by a number of different means (a router firewall, security software, password protection, etc.) I offer a secure email service, and I have a private, unpublished chat room on my site.
Ways To Protect Your Confidentiality:
• Emailing from your workplace is not confidential unless you use a secure email service, otherwise, your employer can read your emails.
• At home, you can use a password to access both your computer and your email server, and you might want to delete emails from your hard drive - remember to empty your sent, trash, and recycle files too.
• If you're concerned that someone who has access to your computer will find out that you visited my site, you can delete the cache of your browser (the web sites you visit are saved as files by IE and Netscape - consult your browser’s help menu to learn how to do this). Or, for a quick and simple way to delete your cache (and remove cookies from your computer) you can download Cookie Monster for free from WebAttack.com.
• For internet security, you can download a free software fire wall. Zone Alarm offers a good free firewall for personal use (scroll down to the bottom of their page).
• Let me know if you have any questions or concerns about your confidentiality. I will be happy to answer all of your questions. Remember, you have a right to confidentiality.
If You Have Questions About Me or Online Counseling:
• Please feel free to email me with any questions you have about me, online counselling, or whether or not I think that I can help you and I will be happy to answer all of your questions free of charge. If you want to speak with me in person, call me at 416-508-5815. If I am not available, I will return your call as soon as possible.
• You can read more information about me first, if you want. You can take a look at my background, education and professional memberships.
• When you decide you want to discuss a problem with me, that's when you pay my fee and we begin.
