Why Online Therapy?

At Ancora counselling we have been conducting online therapy for many years. Using video calling is a way of keeping up your therapy. Historically its been used within the practice to accommodate clients who regularly work away, clients who have operations or illness, parents of children that may find childcare difficult. Previously video calling has been utilised to ensure that therapy provided by the practice is accessible to all when they require it. Our ethos has always been to try and accommodate clients needs wherever possible.

The pandemic highlighted the incredible usefulness of video calling. During the lockdowns it’s meant that therapists and their clients can continue to meet safely and regularly. There is a proportion of society that has shielded and individuals in that category have used online therapy for the whole of 2020. 

Some clients have reported that they felt more able to work as they were in their own environment and that gave them an added level of security. Going forward as a practice we will commit to having the online platform available at all times.

Preparing for an Online Therapy Session

One of the hardest things for a therapist about online sessions is that we normally provide a safe, private and confidential space for your therapy to take place. Preparing for your online therapy will involve you considering when and where you are going to have a safe space to talk with privacy and without fear of being interrupted or overheard. 

Emotionally when you have your therapy at a therapists  practice you will walk out the door and hopefully be able to transition to being in the world easily, online you won’t have that separation. Therefore, it may be worth thinking about how you spend the few minutes after your therapy so you are able to get on with the rest of your day.

Finding the Right Space

It can be important for you to consider which room of your home is best to have your session. As a client you come to my environment now you will be inviting me into your space. It can be a useful part of the therapeutic process to consider the effects of your therapist in your space.

You may be having therapy in your office or work environment again consider how much privacy you have and ensure any chance of interruption. Its not unheard of to reach the conclusion that your car is the best place for you to have therapy. If this is the case please ensure you are parked safely and that you are as comfortable as possible.  Your therapist can help you explore any issues that arise as a result of online sessions

Before the Session Begins

Before your  session you and your therapist will agree your preferred platform. Your therapist should have an idea what works best in terms of technology in their location and also which is the most confidential. All therapists insurance should be valid for online work but please check if you are unsure.

Your therapist will always wait for you to call a little like you deciding to ring their doorbell for a session.The reason a therapists waits for you to call is that as with face to face sessions you have the autonomy to decide if that session takes place.

You should always feel comfortable discussing online versus face to face sessions. Therapists will always be happy to discuss your needs in relation to the way your sessions to take place. During the pandemic some therapists will have had to shield or isolate as well as make personal decisions around the way that they deliver sessions. Offering online sessions is a way of ensuring that the majority of sessions take place.