Online counselling has become a popular choice for time-poor people and it’s not hard to see why. Travelling to and from face-to-face appointments can feel like another chore while juggling the demands of work and family life. Online counselling is the perfect alternative because it’s accessible, convenient, affordable and private.
It’s accessible
Travelling to a counsellor’s office can be inconvenient with distance and traffic acting as major barriers. With online counselling, it doesn’t matter if you live in a rural or remote area or if your preferred counsellor lives in a different state. You can access counselling wherever there’s a wifi connection. No running late, no bumper-to-bumper traffic and no exorbitant CBD parking prices. Online counselling is also a great option for people who travel a lot. Business trips can be stressful and isolating which makes seeking professional support more important than ever. Having an established relationship with an online counsellor means you can talk to them about the issues you’re facing from any hotel room, anywhere in the world.
It’s convenient
In addition to being easy to access, online counselling works around you and your busy lifestyle. Attending counselling sessions during the day doesn’t suit people who work full-time and can be tricky for stay-at-home parents who don’t have a babysitter on hand. A stay-at-home mum recently told me about the debacle she faced when trying to organise a counselling session during the day. She was feeling unnecessarily guilty about returning to work after the birth of her baby and thought chatting to a counsellor might help. In lieu of a paid babysitter, she asked her mother-in-law to come over and watch her baby while she attended the session. After a lengthy interrogation by her mother-in-law, she had to fess up that she was going to counselling to plan her return to work. She was consequently bombarded with a list of reasons why she should stay at home until her child started school. If only she had booked an online appointment! I offer appointments until 9pm at night meaning you can have dinner, put the kids to bed and enjoy a counselling session in the comfort of your own home. It’s easy to book your appointment online and the session can be conducted via Skype, FaceTime or over the phone. Wearing pyjamas and ugg boots is encouraged and no explanation to your
mother-in-law is required, which brings me to…
It’s private
Counselling is such a personal experience and it’s important that you feel as safe and relaxed as possible. While the social stigma surrounding counselling and psychology services has diminished, some people don’t feel comfortable about openly receiving therapy. They worry that they might bump into someone they know in the waiting room or feel uneasy sharing personal experiences in unfamiliar surroundings. These feelings of anxiety can affect people’s progress in working through challenges as they find it hard to open up. Online counselling offers clients a degree of anonymity and a sense of safety. It allows you to share your innermost thoughts in the safe cocoon of your home.
It’s affordable
Life is expensive and often counselling is seen as an ‘extra’ rather than an essential tool in navigating life’s challenges. Online counselling is more affordable for you and your counsellor. Not having to pay for an office space means online practitioners can charge lower rates for their services without any compromise on quality. At Mindset Counselling a 50-minute session is $79 which includes an individualised counselling approach based on my extensive experience in cognitive behavioural, solution-focussed and person-centred therapy.
Convinced? I hope so. Online counselling can be a rewarding and beneficial experience if you’re going through a tough time or just need some advice from an independent and trustworthy source. If you need someone to chat to, please get in touch.