Many of the clients often express the limitation of distance in coming for therapy. Some are situated in other towns and some are restricted with time. In India, the social taboo and the stigma of mental health also enhances the reluctance to visit a mental health professional. Due to such reasons, the service fails to reach the one in need. In such scenario, the online counseling is a viable alternative source of help.
What is online counseling?
As the name suggests, online counseling means providing professional mental health services using technology. This can be done by e-mail, chat, telephone or video conferencing. It is a direct medium between the counselor (or therapist) and the client.
How does it work?
With the advanced technology in hand, we have numerous online options to be connected from any part of the world. The therapist and the client can have conversations by:
- Written communication through emails
- Active video conferences through WhatsApp/ Skype/ Facetime etc
- Talks on Telephone
- Chats through text messaging or WhatsApp messaging
What are the benefits of online counseling?
Online counseling is useful in many ways:
- Clients do not need to travel to the therapist, hence save time.
- People in need from remote areas can also avail the best mental health services
- Counseling or therapy happens in the comfort of client’s home or office or any other familiar environment
- Physically challenged clients are able to access the services at their conveniences
- Sessions are private and confidential.
- Clients can continue their counseling sessions from anywhere, without breaking the regularity.
- For some clients, writing their problems is easier. It enhances their self-reflection. They can also re-read, rehearse and reinforce the solutions and resolutions discussed during the sessions.
- Exchange of assessment tools and reading materials is faster through online modalities.
- Some clients may feel more comfortable in remaining anonymous and not disclose much of their identity using online counseling methods.
CASES
CASE 1: KA had met with an accident, due to which he was restricted to the home. He was under depression and needed help. He could not come to in-person therapy sessions without great assistance from others. After a few talks, he chose to seek online video counseling.
CASE 2: After a few in-person counseling sessions MB had to go out of the country for two months. He did not want to give break to his therapy process. His therapy sessions were continued through Facetime sessions.
CASE 3: SA had two small children. It was difficult for her to come for in-person therapy without them. After an introductory face to face counseling session, she decided to continue through video counseling.
Are there any downfalls of online counseling?
Non-verbal clues are an important and significant aspect of the counseling process. When the therapist listens to the client, it is not only verbal information that he is paying attention to. A lot of information about the client is expressed through the body gestures, voice tone, and other non-verbal movements. Such visual clues are missing in the text, phone or email exchanges. Even during video conferences assessment of the non-verbal behavior is limited.
For the people who are emotionally vulnerable and seeking emotional comfort, in-person counseling is more effective. With gestures of offering water or tissue and empathizing, it is easier to connect with them.
In cases of family counseling and therapy, face to face sessions are more practical and effective.
CASES
CASE 1: Mr. and Mrs. Bahl were married for 9 years. In their busy corporate lives, they had lost their intimacy and love in the relationship. During counseling, they wondered if they should continue the relationship. With an active effort of coming together for the counseling sessions every week, they discovered each other again.
CASE 2: SM had confined herself to her home after losing her child. She lost her confidence and was depressed. Her family atmosphere was also not helpful in making her feel comfortable. Coming out of the home for counseling sessions was therapeutic and facilitated in her healing.
What kind of problems can be best addressed through online counseling?
There are a number of psychological issues that can be dealt through online counseling. Anxiety, panics, phobias, eating disorders, depression, drug use, children’s problems, relationship problems are some of them. People can significantly benefit from web-based approaches wherein education and the information is also imparted.