Counselling via email

[Magicmonster]

Decided I prob need to start some relationship counselling on my own. Due to time/childcare restraints I think counselling over email may be the best option for me. Does anyone have any recommended relationship counsellors who provide advice in that way? Thanks in advance

Have you considered telephone counselling? Still need 30-60 minutes of quiet time but easier than face to face to fit in with commitments.

Some people offer it by Skype too. I know of someone who does that.

I'd ask yourself - really, really honestly - whether email sounds good because it's convenient ... or because it will be easier to avoid baring your soul to someone who is that far removed from you.

Also wondering why you want relationship counselling alone rather than personal counselling that would involve your situation in your relationship.

Thanks for the replies all. You’re right, I am prob using the wrong term. I probably do mean personal counselling rather than relationship counselling - it’s just that the issues I want to work through involve a relationship.

Dolores - in some ways I think I will find it easier to open up over email. I think I would find it easier to explain clearly my feelings without getting emotional and clamming up. I also think maybe it would be helpful to have the emails to go back to and digest again at a later date.

I will definitely consider face to face/Skype/telephone too though. Thanks

I had face-to-face counselling - but I started by writing it down. It was easier to do that than say it. But it did start face-to-face conversation - which I probably wouldn't have managed without writing first.

So I can see that it would work, but at some point, it might be helpful to be face-to-face, as body language can also say a lot that words alone don't.

That’s a good suggestion Bearhug. Right now I just feel like if I go to face to face counselling i will get emotional and my thoughts will get all jumbled and I will not achieve much. But I do see how maybe I just need to get over the inevitable awkwardness of it all and I see how someone may be able to help more when they can observe your body language etc too

I would recommend telephone counselling. You can fit it into your schedule and do it from the comfort of your own home, so it’s more convenient than face-to-face (though both are good). Personally I’m not sure how well email counselling would work as it might be harder to connect with your counsellor if you’re not actually talking to them.

You could make notes afterwards to remember what was discussed. I tend to jot things down as they come into my head in my daily life, to remind myself before a session of what I want to talk about. Good luck.

For personal I can recommend someone who works via Skype. Am I allowed to post here or do I need to PM (not sure Mumsnet rules!)?

Maybe a compromise would be to start with a few email only sessions, where you could describe your problems without getting emotionally upset or having to deal with a counsellor face to face, then by mutual agreement switch to telephone or skype when you felt more confident and had sounded out the therapist a bit?