Do Skype Therapy Sessions Work? The ins and outs of therapy via Skype counselling.

This blog post will be answering some key questions about the advantages and disadvantages of skype therapy, as well as tips for finding a good skype therapist and for making the most of your skype therapy sessions.

As the main difference between skype therapy and traditional therapy is the delivery of therapy – through a computer screen rather then directly face to face – therapy via skype can have a similar level of effectiveness as traditional therapy as long the  advantages and disadvatages of online therapy are known to the client.

A good place to start is with one of the most famous and legitimate companies offering web-based/skype therapy is this one.

By filling out this survey, they match you with a therapist that matches your needs the most, then you start your sessions online in the form that suits you.

Why start skype counselling?

Reasons for beginning skype consultation therapy are the same as why you would begin traditional therapy. Feeling unlike yourself, low moods, experiencing PTSD, anxiety and depression include just some of the issues that can be approached with skype therapy.

Online psychologists offering skype therapy sessions at Psychology Help are experienced in offering help with issues including managing stress, reducing anxiety, low self-esteem.

What are the advantages of therapy via skype?

Therapy over skype has many advantages over traditional face-to-face therapy including:

Lower Cost

Therapy over skype is usually lower cost then traditional face to face therapy due to the lack of rent/running costs for an office for the skype psychologist, this saving is reflected in the lower price. Additionally, skype counselling can be more cost-effective due to the lack of travel costs, and the flexibility that skype therapy can have for people with busy work and/or family lives.

Flexibility

Skype therapy is far more flexible and adaptable for clients. Appointments are available for a wide variety of times and dates, and because of their online format travel time and time to get ready for therapy does not need to be planned for by the client. The flexibility and convenience of online skype appointments may alleviate the need for time off work, or childcare whilst talking to a therapist which adds to both the convenience and the price savings involved in online therapy.

Suitability

Skype therapy can enable people to access counselling who might overwise not be able to access traditional therapy. For example, people with disabilities that cause them to be housebound or to struggle to leave home, people with social anxiety who may struggle with physically travelling and accessing a therapist and those who live rurally, who are not local to a therapist. Skype therapy sessions enable people to access counselling without leaving their own homes, provided they have internet access and a device that works with skype.

Disadvatages of skype therapy…

Although skype consultation therapy has multiple advantages, there are a few things that need to be considered before deciding whether therapy over skype is right for you, these factors include:

Technical Issues

If the client or therapist experience technical issues before or during a therapy session this can disrupt the therapeutic work which may cause distress to the client. Additionally, as skype therapy is dependent on the internet and technology, an unexpected disruption such as a device not working may discourage a client from continuing or beginning online therapy sessions.

This can be partly addressed by ensuring that the client has a reliable internet connection, and a fully functioning device. If the client is concerned about technical issues they could discuss a backup plan as to what would happen if they could not reconnect during the therapy via skype.

Types of Issue

For some people online skype sessions may not be beneficial to their specific issues they wish to address, for example if a client is looking to improve their relational skills with a partner, some non-verbal cues may be missed via a skype link. Additionally, if the client prefers the presence of another and finds face to face contact comforting then skype therapy sessions may be unsuitable.

At Psychology Help, attending a single one-to-one skype therapy session is not a long-term commitment, clients are more than welcome to book their first session to find out whether skype therapy is a good fit for them.

How to get the most out of skype therapy sessions?

Now you are aware of the advantages and disadvantages of skype therapy, this blog will explore some of the best ways to get the most out of therapy sessions via skype.

Skype consultation therapy can be rewarding and effective, but some simple tips and steps before and during therapy can increase the benefit gained from skype therapy. Clients can get more out of therapy by ensuring they have positioned themselves in a peaceful and relaxing location, reflected on their moods since the last therapy session and their current mood before therapy begins and by carrying out some simple breathing exercises to relax and prepare themselves for the therapy session.

In addition to being ready to work on themselves, clients may get more out of online skype therapy by recording the sessions. This will allow them to listen to the work that has been done if they feel the need or become unsure about therapy progression.

So, what is the best way to pick a good psychologist? 

Picking a good therapist is essential to getting the most out of therapy via skype. Many websites provide a skype therapist directory, containing a multitude of therapists, but choosing one out of a skype therapy directory can be confusing and time consuming.

This section will provide a few tips on how to find the right therapist for you!

A skype psychologist may be skilled and experienced, but if they do not meet your individual needs then you will not experience the best therapy possible. For the best possible match between client and skype psychologist, the client should be honest about their problems, their needs and preferences (e.g. gender, sexuality, age) and what assistance they feel would help them the most. The virtual psychologist offering skype counselling should be open about their experience and areas of specific interest to ensure they are providing the best service possible.

At Psychology help, all the psychologists are highly trained and experienced in their chosen psychological areas. Instead of providing either a skype therapist directory or a skype therapy directory, Psychology Help checks your individual notes provided in the initial contact form to pair you with a psychologist that is best matched to your specific needs.

Finally, does skype therapy work, and is it right for me?

Skype therapy can be just as effective as traditional therapy, provided it is appropriate for your individual issues.

It can allow people who would ordinarily not be able to attend therapy an opportunity to address their issues, provided they have internet access. Skype therapy may be subject to technological issues, but these can be accounted for with proper preparation between therapist and client.

If you think skype therapy might be helpful for you, there is nothing to lose by booking your first non-commitment session with Psychology help today!