Considerations for Telephone Counselling
Considerations for
Telephone Counselling
You direct your counselling by selecting the method of communication you feel most comfortable with. You choose the time, the place and the pace of your counselling to suit your needs with telephone counselling.
How it works
This is similar to webcam counselling as it happens through the Zoom system, or via a handset, but without the visual aspects. You can choose to remain anonymous and the conversation is encrypted if held on Zoom. Every effort is made to provide a safe and secure environment for your online therapy with encryption software to protect your confidentiality and secure.
An advantage of telephone counselling is that non-verbal communication can be carried in your tone of voice or the pace of speech which can be picked up by your counsellor.
A disadvantage of telephone counselling is that you need a private space where you will not be overheard. Telephone counselling offers certain benefits but there are also limitations that are worth bearing in mind when deciding which type of therapy will best suit your needs.
Benefits
- Flexibility to chose counselling therapy at a time that suits you
- Calls can take place from your own home, sitting in a parked car, or whilst on a 1-hour walk
- Secure telephone line that offers confidentiality and peace of mind
- No chance that you may be seen entering the counsellors practice or worries about travelling to and from the centre
- Some find it easier to express their thoughts and feelings when not sitting in front of someone (disinhibition effect)
- Access to counselling sessions may be more immediate
Things to consider
- Are you comfortable talking on the phone for 50-minutes?
- Would you prefer to see your counsellor face-to-face?
- Do you feel you can express your feelings effectively using words?
- Do you feel your situation is too complex to discuss over the phone?
- Is there somewhere you can go to for a private conversation without interruption?
- There are no non-verbal cues or body language for you or the counsellor to read this can lead to misunderstanding
Booking in an initial consultation over the phone provides an opportunity to see how it feels talking with a potential therapist and assessing your comfort levels. Things may change, and that’s OK. If at any point you would want to try face-to-face therapy or move to online video, you can always check in with the therapist if they would be flexible to do so or can refer you to a counselling service that matches your needs.
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Amanda Salvara MBACP
Accredited Counsellor, Psychotherapist and NLP Coach
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+4420 8106 0776
hello@amandasalvara.com