When I first opened Fairy Wren Counselling, I made the choice to begin with telehealth appointments only. I was a little bit unsure about how successful this would be, because I was used to working with people face-to-face. I was concerned that it would be difficult to form a connection with clients over the internet. Now that I’ve been in business for a full year, I’ve left those concerns in the dust. I’ve learned that not only is it possible to offer effective, connected counselling online but there are also a lot of benefits to online counselling. Here are a few reasons why I love being a telehealth counsellor.

I can see clients all over Australia

Offering online sessions means that I’m not restricted to seeing clients only in my local area. I can connect with people from all over the country. Online sessions are accessible to people who live in regional or rural areas, who may not have access to specialised counsellors in their hometown. This is especially important if you’re LGBTQIA+ or non-monogamous, because there may not be a counsellor who specialises in these areas living nearby. By running my appointments online, my virtual office is open to anyone who can benefit from my assistance and expertise, regardless of where you happen to be located.

Lower session fees

I’m very aware of the cost of living and the importance of keeping prices as low as possible. By not maintaining a physical office, I keep my business overheads way down, and that has a flow on effect to my clients. If I don’t have to worry about paying for things like rent, cleaning and utilities for an office, you can pay less per session.

Increased Flexibility

Not having a physical office space also gives me a lot of flexibility in terms of the times that I can offer appointments. Most office spaces close at 5 pm, but offering telehealth allows me to see clients outside of normal office hours. I have two nights per week (Monday and Wednesday) where I see clients until 7 pm in the evening, to give folks who work full-time a chance to access counselling without having to take time off work.

My clients are more comfortable

Online sessions give you the freedom to do your therapy sessions in the space where you feel the most comfortable. For some people, that’s their bedroom, their office or even their car. I’ve done sessions with clients who were tucked up in bed, while they take a walk in the park or on their daily commute. I’ve noticed that when I see clients in their own space, they tend to be more relaxed and it takes less time for them to open up and talk about difficult topics.

From a therapeutic perspective, it can be helpful for me to see clients in their own environment. It gives me insight into where they spend their time, what they surround themselves with and where they feel most at home. Some of my grief and loss clients have shared pictures and important items with me over the camera, and I’ve met so many client’s pets. Occasionally, my cats will make an appearance in my sessions and a lot of people enjoy the comfort that a furry friend will bring to the session.

Fewer cancellations

When I worked in an office that offered both in-person and telehealth sessions, I noticed that there was a much higher cancellation rate for face-to-face sessions. If you’re not feeling well, you’re having a rough time or you’re incredibly busy, getting in the car and travelling to an appointment can be too much and it’s easier to cancel. However, telehealth removes a lot of the barriers to attending appointments and makes it easier to get support when you’re struggling the most. For clients who are living with chronic illness, this can be especially important.

Telehealth appointments also reduce the number of sessions that I would have to cancel due to illness or travel. There are times when I’ve had the sniffles, and I would have cancelled an in-person appointment so as not to pass my germs onto my client. But I can still provide effective therapy via telehealth, so they haven’t had to miss out on their session because of my stuffy nose.

Telehealth appointments have changed the way that I offer therapeutic services, and I believe that they offer greater accessibility and flexibility for my clients. I have established strong, trusting therapeutic relationships with clients that I’ve never met in person and I’ve seen the positive changes that they’ve made in their lives without ever stepping foot into my office.