ONLINE COUNSELLING / E-THERAPY

I'm proud to be in the vanguard of professionals helping people via chat and email in this new medium, online counselling or therapy, sometimes called e-therapy.

As in traditional counselling, online counselling provides you with access to a qualified and experienced professional. In addition, online counselling is affordable, accessible, anonymous, and available 7 days a week from the privacy of your own home. Avoid the uncomfortable feeling of running into a familiar face on the way in or out of a clinic. Since you never have to leave the comfort of your home to meet with your counsellor, your anonymity and privacy is completely secured. Online counselling gives you access to a live professional counsellor, no matter what part of the world you live in.

Many people are turning to the Internet for professional counselling and find it to be an ideal way to discuss life's challenges, personal concerns or emotional problems. Some people opt for ongoing counselling, while others for a single session with a counsellor just for guidance on a specific matter.

Email

Email counselling is another form of online counselling that may suit your needs. Many find that expressing concerns and/or questions in writing helps organise and focus on the problem at hand.

You can expect to receive a detailed response from your counsellor within approximately 24-48 hours. Payment for an email session occurs following the completion of the session, after all service was provided to your satisfaction.

Therapy or counselling by a qualified counsellor is a skilled service like those offered by other professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, and dentists. When you become my client, I make a commitment to you backed not only by my training and experience, but also by my professional ethics. The fee is your part of the bargain. My part includes accepting responsibility for our work together, maintaining confidentiality, behaving professionally toward you at all times, and giving priority to your emotional needs.

Why a Professional?

Many visitors who contact me through this site start out by saying they "just need advice" or are "looking for someone to talk to." So why choose a professional? Real counselling or therapy offers a lot more than just an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on. A professional is more likely to help you get unstuck and make some real changes, in both your life and how you feel. Maybe you are afraid that there is "something wrong with you." A helping professional in trained to know the difference and help effectively whether your trouble is mild or severe, either through "talk therapy" (online or face to face) or by referring you to a qualified professional whose help will match your needs. Counselling or therapy is a process in which, over time, the therapist gets to know you, helps you make the most of your strengths, and empowers you to make the choices that only you can make.

What about confidentiality?

Broadly, what you tell me is confidential so long as you're not intent on hurting others. I don't pass your details to anyone unless you ask me to. There are some obvious common-sense exceptions . I am accountable to UK law. As your therapist, I am bound by professional ethics to consider the confidentiality of our work a sacred trust, just as I would in office practice. While nothing on the Internet is hacker proof, no transcript is stored on any server or computer. The confidentiality of electronic and printed records created and maintained by you is your sole responsibility.

How long does online therapy last?

Like face to face therapy, how long online counselling or therapy lasts depends on your issues and your willingness to work on them. I do not offer "advice" or a quick solution to your problem. My job is to empower you to make life decisions that are right for you and to give you some tools for doing so. What often happens is that we meet a few times so that you can see whether you feel comfortable working online and how you like working with me.

Other Information

Using my online counselling service is designed to be easy. It's available worldwide, there's no need to join anything or log in and there are no passwords or paperwork. This is a professional service but deliberately user-friendly. Because you only use one session at once you are not tied. You will never be contacted unless you invite that. You can ask for simple advice on any emotional issue or engage me for longer if you want to do something more complicated. It's up to you. Live sessions last for 1 hour (not 50 minutes) and email replies happen inside 24-48 hours.

I've found online counselling to be a really good place to at least start tackling most things and I will adjust my style of working to suit you. If you want your counsellor to spend much time asking you how you feel I advise you to try a different counsellor because although that approach is good I'm a bit more direct and informative than that. If I don't think I can be useful I'll tell you so, then refund your money and try to point you in the right direction.

By all means get in touch if you want to know more. My first intention here is to provide the easiest possible access to a professional counsellor.