Online vs In office? Which is best for me?

Is online counselling for every age?

Typically the younger generation is keen to take up online counselling but the older generation is hesitant at times. With that being said, I have a wide range of clientele that opts for online counselling.

In a fast-paced technological world, I am often asked about online counselling. Initially I steered away from it because I really thrive on face to face human connection, as most of us do.
But then all of a sudden I was left without any option and had to do online counselling.

It certainly came with a learning curve but once I figured everything out it went fairly smoothly. Now don’t get me wrong, we are often at the mercy of technology and sometimes that means that you have to have extra patience.

So with all this shift towards online counselling I thought I’d share with you a little bit of my experience, my do's and don’ts and what you can expect from online counselling. 

When it comes to being behind the screen, I have been on both sides; the client and the therapist. And every time I must say that, within the first 5 minutes, it is as if we are sitting in front of each other. 

I have been in clients' garages, bedrooms, closets, vehicles and even their bathrooms. As long as you have an Internet connection you are good to go. With that being said, I typically recommend that clients try to have a steady wifi connection, if not then to hardwire their computer to the modem for a greater connection. It makes a big difference.

My other suggestion is to act as though your online session is an in-office session, in terms of securing a quiet place where there are no interruptions and you are dedicating your time to your growth.

Your online session will look very similar to your in-office session in terms of the conversation and potential variety of exercises. 

One of the advantages of online sessions is that you have the ability to stay in your comfortable clothes, as I typically only see the top half of you.
Another benefit is that often we are in different time zones and our session may be in the evening for you as it is only the end of the afternoon for myself. It may be beneficial in terms of fitting in your sessions around your work/family schedule.

Something else that I hadn’t thought of until recently is, if someone doesn’t want to seek counsel from the same city for fear of encountering the therapist, the online option is great for that.

Your ‘easy to talk to’ therapist,

Kimberly Castle R.T.C CAMC

Kimberly Castle is a Registered Therapeutic Counsellor with a private practice in beautiful Kelowna, BC. She focuses on empowering individuals in all areas of their life. In her practice she works with couples and individuals on a variety of topics including trauma, self-esteem and anger management counselling.