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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Would you see a therapist online?

36 replies

zoomtherapy · 02/02/2022 09:21

Hello,

I'm a regular poster but I've NC for this as don't want to link with my other posts.

I'm an NHS clinical psychologist working part time and looking to branch out into private practice. I don't currently have a suitable consulting room at home (I am working on this), so was planning in the interim to offer solely online therapy sessions. I'm wanting to gauge whether there might be a market for this, as I realise that being able to open up in therapy sessions depends a lot on how you feel in the room with someone; hence it might feel strange to never meet your therapist in person.

So... would you personally consider an online only therapist if you were to seek out therapy?

Thanks for any views.

OP posts:

Shadappayourface · 02/02/2022 11:00

I've had in-person and over the phone consultations and these were my pro's and con's:

Pro's for phone:
No travelling and could do it during work hours

Con's for phone:
Hated not being able to gauge the therapists reactions/body behaviour.
Felt impersonal
Couldn't properly switch off from the outside world (didn't have a nice, quiet therapy environment)
Didn't feel like I got to know my therapist too well

I'm assuming yours will be online meeting type ones with camera?

Jellycatspyjamas · 02/02/2022 11:01

I’m a therapist and see clients face to face and online. There are things to consider particularly in working with trauma around safety for the client and them not having space eg talking about very difficult things and having very difficult emotions in their own home. The physical space of the therapy room provides a level of containment that some people really need, travel to and from therapy can give space for them to decompress before being back at home. In all honestly there are some clients I’d want to see in person to offer closer support and help with grounding before they leave.

For others online works very well from a practical point of view and they work really well that way.

I think if you were mindful of your case load and the types of issues you’re working with, it would be fine and there are certainly clients happy to work that way. Feel free to message me if I can help.

Mediocrates · 02/02/2022 11:06

I've been seeing an NHS psychologist for about 7 months now and all of our appointments have been online. We're doing schema therapy and I've much preferred not having to go to a face to face appointment

VainAbigail · 02/02/2022 11:09

Wouldn’t work for me and I actively sought out people who would do face to face when I found my therapist.

Whambamthankyoumaam21 · 02/02/2022 11:12

I’m currently having telephone therapy, it’s been great. If you could offer telephone therapy , I totally would. .

Internetio · 02/02/2022 11:15

I do, my therapist is very good at privacy and uses specially designed video calling software as she doesn't believe zoom etc are good enough to protect her professional ethics as so much data is captured. Works well and it means I can be comfortable in my home during our sessions.

blobby10 · 02/02/2022 11:42

Surely it depends on the individual and their needs? I don't have any personal experience of therapy but OH had a complete mental breakdown last year and finally started private counselling/talking therapy in December. The first few sessions were via Zoom mainly due to Covid but he also had a massive panic attack as he was leaving the house on week 3 at the prospect of seeing her in person. A couple of weeks later , he asked me to walk him there and has been seeing her in person ever since.

Original poster

zoomtherapy · 02/02/2022 13:25

Thanks everyone for your replies. Lots to think about. I'm pleased online therapy has been helpful for some people, really encouraging to hear!

OP posts:

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 02/02/2022 13:27

Ime most therapists are doing it online at the moment.

ABitOfAShitShow · 02/02/2022 14:02

I have (video though - I wouldn't have liked calls). It worked great. I was a bit self-conscious in case neighbours could hear me - or my ex when he was in another room - but I never felt a need to worry about her end. She was always in a room with a closed door, had headphones in and there was never a disruption or so much as a noise.

I also spoke to my sleep therapist (clinical psych) on FaceTime each week. Same thing.

Drivingmisspotty · 02/02/2022 14:12

When I did face to face the actual counselling was good but the only slot/location available meant I had to peg it over from the school run and then dash straight back to work which wasn’t ideal. It was bereavement counselling in a hospice and at the end of each session the counsellor suggested I go in their lovely garden for some quiet before I got on with my day but I didn’t have time for it I think the rushing either side was counterproductive really and it was a big factor in me stopping that counselling.

When I came to seek counselling again for something else after covid and it was offered on zoom it was such a relief. I didn’t feel like zoom was a barrier it just made it so much easier to fit into my life. I’m sure it’s not for everyone but online was a vastly better experience for me.

I think if I was doing it again I would also prefer online than in someone’s private home for my personal safety.

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