Can online counselling really feel like counselling?

I offer counselling online, but I don’t think that means online counselling is automatically the right choice for everybody. Some people really like it; you can finish work, make a cup of tea and have your session at home without having to drive anywhere. If you’re anxious about going somewhere unfamiliar, being in your own space might also make things feel a little easier.

Other people hate the idea of talking to a counsellor through a laptop, which is also totally valid. If you’re thinking about attending counselling online, there are some things to think about. You will definitely need a private space where you feel fully able to talk.

Wi-fi connections or software issues might happen, a notification might pop up on your screen, or your doorbell might ring – all of these things can momentarily impact the flow of the session, but aren’t insurmountable. We also won’t be able to see as much of each other as if we were two bodies sitting together in a room.

But it’s still two people having a conversation. As a counsellor working online, I am still listening to you, responding to what you say, getting things wrong occasionally and checking that I’ve understood you. We can laugh, share silences, you can tell me that something I’ve said doesn’t make sense. All the ordinary human bits of counselling are still there.

You might find online counselling surprisingly comfortable, or you might try it and decide that you’d prefer face-to-face. Neither way is a better way of doing counselling, it’s really just about finding a way of meeting that works for you.

If you’re curious about online counselling but not sure whether you’d like it, you can arrange a free 20-minute introductory call with me and get a feel for it before deciding.