About online work
If we embark on counselling work together, I will e-mail you with details before the first session about how the skype/phone sessions will be conducted. Although I maintain a fairly flexible schedule, due to the nature of phone/skype counselling and taking into account the privacy needed for both of us, it is important to schedule a time when neither of us will be interrupted.
You may choose to work with me by phone or with Skype for a number of reasons: you may be housebound - be ill or have limited mobility, have caring or parenting responsibilities, or anti-social working hours. In addition you may have a need for privacy, you may live abroad or be working as an expat, or you may have limited access to well-qualified professionals. Scheduling may be easier when working online, and convenient in that you are likely to be having the session from your home, so you don't lose time in travelling to a session.
These are some of the advantages to working online. There are disadvantages too in that the technology may be unreliable, or it may be challenging to build a relationship between the two of us because of the technology. The lack of visual and auditory cues can be difficult. You need to make sure that you won't be interrupted during the session, and that you are able to talk without distraction.
You may find the following links to articles about online counselling and psychotherapy interesting:
http://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/depression_and_psychotherapy
http://www.gather.com/viewArticlePF.jsp?articleId=281474977220535
http://www.apa.org/monitor/oct02/distance.aspx
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=distance-therapy-comes-of-age
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/creativity-way-life/201105/therapy-in-your-pajamas
If you have any other questions, please contact me via the "To contact me" tab in the left-hand column. I will get back to you within 48 hours.