I provide counselling services over the Internet (online therapy) to gay and bisexual men, and women, around the world. Meeting with a counsellor online provides privacy, more flexibility in appointment times and the convenience of being able to keep up sessions if you are away from home or short of time.
How Does Online Therapy Compare with ‘Face to Face’ Appointments?
This is a question I am asked a lot. Obviously there are differences. But after several years of providing both online and in-person appointments to gay men and others, my experience is that both modes of therapy are valid and both have their benefits.
But how can you do therapy when you can’t read body language?
This question assumes that interpreting non-verbal communication is a high priority for all therapists. It is for some, but not for all. Some psychoanalysts interpret body language in their work but I prefer to work with questions and conversation. Also, I am not a psychoanalyst and I take the position that those consulting me know more about their own lives than I do. So I see my role as encouraging people to share their stories with me rather than to judge their behaviour. Gay men often have histories of being judged for their body language or gender performance and I want to respect the stories they are prepared to share with me.
Doesn’t online therapy feel less personal than face to face sessions?
To begin with, some online therapy – that which is done by webcam – IS ‘face to face’. Most people use Skype webcam to see me so we are also face to face in these online appointments. It does feel different to be meeting over the Internet than in the same room. But going to see a therapist or counsellor for the first time can be quite challenging for some people. Many people who have tried Skype appointments say it is easier to share their stories with me via webcam, so in fact we can get to deeper concerns and more personal issues more quickly in many cases. For gay men, online therapy offers a lower threshold for those attending counselling for the first time or those with negative experiences of therapists from the past.
You also have the option to do voice-only sessions (without webcam), appointments by phone or email exchange sessions. All have their advantages and benefits.
What about confidentiality?
Another benefit of working together online is that you can be sure that no one will see you going to a therapists office, because you are doing it from the privacy of home! This might be a particular concern for gay men coming out or those who prefer not to disclose their sexuality. Over the Internet, you can retain your privacy. Online therapy offers the same, if not better, levels of confidentiality than presenting at a counselling clinic. No one will see you in the waiting room and you don’t have the bother of travel. Online therapy and counselling is particularly convenient for those who are short of time, stuck at home for some reason, or living in a non-english speaking country.
If you want to give it a try, send me an email and I can let you know my next available appointment times. Be sure to include your town / city and country. I will always provide you with the right times for your timezone.