When we think of the word “counselling”, most of us would imagine sitting in a quiet room with a therapist, perhaps in a comfy chair or lying down on a couch. For a long time this is the way that most counsellors conducted their sessions. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, counsellors had to pivot and find new ways of delivering services to their clients. Telehealth sessions were the saving grace for many people during this time.

Since 2020, the use of online services has increased. More and more folks are embracing the benefits of seeing a counsellor via telehealth. Here are a few reasons why online sessions might be a great choice for you.

No need to travel

One of the greatest benefits of telehealth sessions is that there’s no need to travel to attend your appointments. You can forget about busy traffic and hunting for a parking space. The fact that you don’t have to factor in travel time can make it easier to fit counselling into your daily schedule.

Feel more at home

It can be intimidating for a client to attend appointments at a clinical space. The beauty of telehealth sessions is that you can access therapy in the comfort of your own home. Many folks feel more comfortable opening up to a therapist when they’re surrounded by things that make them feel safe. Clients who attend online therapy often find it easier to relax and open up. If you feel anxious about attending clinical appointments, you might find it easier to attend your appointments via telehealth.

Greater flexibility

Online sessions allow for greater flexibility, which opens up the possibility of doing therapy in the evenings or on weekends. This is great for people who work full-time or who have other commitments which make it tricky to attend counselling during business hours. This makes it easier for folks with busy schedules to get support without needing to take time off work.

Greater privacy

A lot of folks feel nervous about attending counselling, because they’re worried about crossing paths with people they know as they head into the building or sit in the waiting room. There is still a degree of stigma around mental health support (which we’re working to dismantle!), and some people feel uneasy about their workmates or friends knowing that they’re seeing a counsellor. Accessing appointments via telehealth gives you more privacy.

Improved accessibility

Telehealth services can improve access to counselling services for some folks. For those who live in rural areas, there may not be a lot of options for counselling close to home.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was working in disability services. When my office began rolling out telehealth sessions, we noticed a sharp decrease in the number of cancellations and no-shows. The majority of our clients were living with chronic illness and they often didn’t feel well enough to get dressed, leave home and travel to an appointment. However, the did feel well enough to access a telehealth appointment. Giving them the option to access services in this way increased the number of appointments they were able to attend and improved their overall outcomes. Many clients opted to continue with this method of service delivery long after the lockdowns were over.

Telehealth can also make appointments more accessible for people who have mobility issues and those who struggle with sensory processing and feelings of social anxiety and overwhelm. Although telehealth isn’t the best option for everyone, it can really help to make counselling more accessible for some folks.

Telehealth services have been embraced in the years since the COVID pandemic began, and this new mode of service delivery offers many benefits. As a practitioner, I love that I’m able to offer my services to a much wider range of people. I can see clients all over Australia, not just the ones that live nearby. I also find that I have more time in my day when I’m not commuting to the office, which means that I can be more centred and present for my clients.

If you’d like to give telehealth counselling a try, please get in touch with me to book an appointment. Alternatively, you can book an appointment online.