While the techniques have evolved over time, the format of\ntraditional counseling has not changed significantly from what early\npsychotherapists developed in the 19th century: you meet your therapist in an\noffice and talk through problems.  The\nmost significant modification was the shift from lying on a couch facing away\nfrom the therapist to sitting facing forward and directly interacting with her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As internet-based communication platforms developed,\ntherapists began seeing their clients online via video conferencing.  Numerous studies have shown that with a solid\ninternet connection (eliminating freezing video and choppy audio), online\ncounseling (also known as distance counseling, tele-counseling, teletherapy,\nonline counseling, and remote counseling) is at least as effective, if not more\neffective, than meeting in-person in the therapist\u2019s office.  And now, seeing clients online is growing in\npopularity due to improved broadband and cellular internet access and the pervasiveness\nof mobile devices with high quality cameras built in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though my training years ago was in traditional face-to-face\npsychotherapy, as a former business consultant I was drawn to utilizing technical\ninnovations in counseling and coaching techniques and formats, so it was a\nnatural fit to focus my private practice on delivering counseling almost\nexclusively online.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Choose Online Counseling?<\/strong>
There are a number of benefits to online counseling as compared to traditional counseling. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

• Time savings: <\/strong>There’s no traffic to navigate or windshield time required when seeing your therapist online. What could you do with that extra time added back into your day?
  <\/li>
• Availability:<\/strong> When a therapist works from her own home, she’s more likely to offer flexible day\/time options for appointments. Evening and weekend availability makes life easier for expats, busy parents and working professionals alike.
  <\/li>
• Privacy:<\/strong> There’s no wondering if you’ll run into your neighbor in the in the waiting room if you’re enjoying the privacy of your own home or office. A HIPAA-compliant, encrypted video conferencing platform provides all the confidentiality you’ll need to feel safe and secure.
  <\/li>
• Comfort:<\/strong> Who wouldn’t love to change into their favorite attire and meet from the comfort of their own couch? Studies show that being physically comfortable will only enhance your counseling experience and improve results.
  <\/li>
• Convenience<\/strong>: There are many potential barriers to making positive changes in your life (like regularly seeing your therapist). \u00a0Online counseling means you can see a therapist whenever and wherever it is convenient for you.\u00a0 You don\u2019t have to deal with traffic, cancel sessions because of travel or bad weather, or take time off from work to schedule a session during typical business hours.
  <\/li>
• Expertise:<\/strong> The internet also provides access to therapists outside your immediate area. This is particularly relevant for those with special therapeutic needs where the closest therapist with the right credentials might be hours away.\u00a0
  <\/li>
• Effective<\/strong>: If we\u2019re stressed out from sitting in traffic or hoping the babysitter actually shows up, we\u2019re not going to be in the right mindset for a therapy session.\u00a0 Then, hoping you won\u2019t be recognized in the counselor\u2019s waiting room elevates stress levels even further.\u00a0 With online counseling from the privacy of your own comfortable space, you\u2019ll be more relaxed and in the right frame of mind to get the most out of your session. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

  Online Counseling or Coaching is Especially Well-Suited For:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Busy \/ Traveling Professionals<\/strong>: When traveling for business, it\u2019s hard enough to get your laundry done on the weekends let alone see a counselor.\u00a0 Online counseling lets you fit a session into your busy schedule in the evening from the comfort of your hotel room.\u00a0 And if one spouse is home and the other on the road, the two of you can easily meet with your couple\u2019s counselor via video.<\/li>
  • Rural Residents<\/strong>: People living in rural communities either lack access to counselors or personally know the only counselor in town. \u00a0As reliable internet access becomes more universal, it’s easier to reach more people who need help.<\/li>
  • Expats Living Abroad<\/strong>: Adjusting to living in or traveling through a foreign country poses unique challenges.\u00a0 Finding a local counselor who \u201cgets you\u201d may be unrealistic. \u00a0Online counseling enables you to utilize the right professional throughout your time overseas.<\/li>
  • Parents<\/strong>: Eliminating the expense and logistics of a babysitter reduces stress even before the counseling session begins.\u00a0 I am happy to offer parents evening appointments so they can connect with me online after the kiddos have been tucked in.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    What About Privacy and Online Security?<\/strong>
    Privacy and security should be of the utmost importance to any conscientious counselor, but you must keep in mind that only you can control your own personal space. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Privacy During Your Session<\/strong>
    With online counseling you must control the environment and physical privacy from which you conduct your sessions. \u00a0I recommend that people find a nice quiet room with good sound insulation and no distractions, but not everyone has easy access to this type of space and may prefer meeting face-to-face in a counselor\u2019s office. \u00a0Some of my clients see me from their office at work during a break or after working hours or even in a friend\u2019s home or private study room at the local library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Online Security<\/strong>
    It is important to safeguard the content of a counseling session, whether in-person or over the internet. \u00a0Depending upon the location of a traditional therapist\u2019s office, clients may see each other walking in and out of the building, sitting in the public waiting room, and heard through the thin walls.\u00a0 For these reasons, with a secure video call platform, online counseling can be even more private than face-to-face sessions.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Secure, encrypted, HIPAA-compliant video conferencing platforms such as Zoom and VSee have made it possible to both increase the effectiveness and decrease the barriers to accessing professional help. \u00a0For anyone who has justified not getting the counseling or coaching assistance they need because they won\u2019t carve out the time or that it is inconvenient to drive to a therapist\u2019s office or they can\u2019t afford a babysitter, those excuses are a thing of the past.\u00a0 Life is too short not to be happy and to get the help you need!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    While the techniques have evolved over time, the format of traditional counseling has not changed significantly from what early psychotherapists developed in the 19th century: you meet your therapist in an office and talk through problems.  The most significant modification was the shift from lying on a couch facing away from the therapist to sitting […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5997,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,25,1],"tags":[50,54,49,53,51,52],"yoast_head":"\n