Anyone tried Relate online counselling?

[glovesoflove]

Thinking about asking OH to try it with me. Actually going to Relate would be a logistical nightmare and I'm not sure that I would be much of a talker in a face to face setting so this sounds like a good idea.

Hi, we've done the face to face Relate (on 2 separate occasions, virtually have a season ticket now.) It helped me, but not DH, who doesn;t listen to anyone.

I felt really desperate last year again, and did an email consultation with a Relate counsellor - only did it once, purely because the answer came back that if I was this unhappy it was time to call it a day, which I can't bring myself to do because the DC adore him.

It was quite good pouring it all out online. In some ways easier than face to face,and they can't see you crying!! Good luck. x

Thanks :)

Sorry to hear things are so difficult for you, don't have any advice but hope things can change for you soon.

I had a few sessions a while back and found it frustrating- I did email Relate.

The counsellor picked up on something which I hadn't explained as accurately as perhaps I could have and her response was coloured by that IYSWIM, so I felt the entire reply was off beam. If it had been a conversation, I could have said "That's not what I meant..." and quickly filled her in.

If you do it by email, make sure you spend time writing it carefully rather than just stream of consciousness stuff.

Thanks, that's a really good point. If we do go for it I will make sure we're as clear as possible!

I,ve done it and didn't rate it at all. Expensive for what it is, and very 'cut and paste', and ends up recommending their face to face service anyway..
Didn't rate their phone service either. Get yourself some face-to face.

I was thinking of trying this some time back but I couldn't see how you could have a dialogue with the counsellor - I imagined you would get one shot to describe your problem, then get one shot at receiving a response and that felt too minimal for us. I felt we needed to present our problems as individuals to each other so we could challenge each other with the counsellor guiding that.

We went for phone counselling in the end as I knew face to face would not work in terms of travel time/childcare/time off work etc.

Phone counselling is excellent IMO and experience. Our counsellor might as well be present with us, it is so much like a three way conversation. If one of us wants an individual session as well, she then holds an individual session with the other person, before we go back to couple counselling so it is fair.

Worth trying I'd have thought

Cheers, maybe the phone would be the way to go. I was having a REALLY bad day when I posted, have since had a big barney with OH and things are much better so fingers crossed we won't need it but it's good to know it's there.