Online Counselling

Your session times are important, and this is your “space”. Being prepared is helpful as part of therapy. Ensuring that you are comfortable, are in a safe and private space and have a pen and paper to make notes can be useful. All session times are conducted at an agreed time between us.

Therapy uses energy and can bring up a host of emotions. This is particularly true of online counselling so, ensuring you have some time after a session is healthy selfcare. Try to make sure you do not have to rush off after a session, doing something pleasurable for 5 – 10 mins can help you to decompress.

Technology

For online counselling sessions I use the Zoom meeting platform. 24 hours prior to your session you can expect to receive a link via the email you have provided with the time and date of your next session. This will be given a generic title to preserve confidentiality: Session No (#).

Connection

There may be occasions where we have technical difficulties. Should either of us experience problems connecting or staying connected, we both agree to text explaining the issue and try to reconnect online within 10 minutes. If the issues continue beyond 10 minutes, I will reschedule our session for free for the same time and day the following week.

I will never intentionally end a session early.

Cyber Security

I take your privacy very seriously and use a secure, encrypted system to protect our sessions. I keep up to date with Zoom’s terms and conditions as well as GDPR and data protection legislation. Unfortunately, internet-based communication is not completely risk-free. I cannot be held responsible for data breaches, hacking, or privacy issues that happen outside of my direct control such as a cyberattack on a platform we use, a security flaw on your personal phone or computer, or risks from using a public Wi-Fi network. If I am made aware of a third-party data breach, I will inform you as soon as possible and we can discuss the impact that might have together.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is an essential part of the counselling process however; it can never be absolute. In some instances, information may be shared without consent where:

-          If there is evidence that you intend to cause significant harm to yourself, or harm someone else,

-           are involved in acts of terrorism,

-          if there are safeguarding concerns connected to children and vulnerable adults.

In most situations I will inform you if I feel confidentiality needs to be breached and we can discuss this further, but this is not guaranteed.

Privacy

When working online it can sometimes be difficult to ensure confidentiality but please try to ensure that you have a private and safe space for your session and that, as best as you can, you will not be interrupted.

At the beginning of each session, I will ask you to confirm your physical location. This is to help me respond appropriately in the event of an emergency.  I will describe the setting I’m in and explain how it is secure and private and I would encourage you as the client to do the same. If your location changes during the session I would ask you to let me know.

I acknowledge that, because of the nature of online working there may be interruptions, if this happens, I will stop talking and wait for you to let me know when your space is private again.

If you feel that your privacy may be compromised and need to end the session unexpectedly for any reason, you are free to leave the call without having to explain yourself at the time.

Where a session ends unexpectedly, I will follow our agreed arrangements for making contact, considering your privacy and safety. We can agree this process in our first session.

I encourage you to only communicate through a computer that you know is safe and where confidentiality can be ensured. Be sure to fully exit all online counselling sessions and emails.

I will never record a session or keep any more than relevant, factual clinical notes which you are entitled to see as the client at any time during your counselling.  If you would like to see your notes, please let me know and I will bring them to our next session.

Emergency arrangements

I will ask you for an emergency contact where appropriate (this can include a family member, friend or neighbour or a healthcare professional). We will talk about the circumstances in which I might need to use your emergency contact, including situations where I consider there is a serious risk of harm to your safety and wellbeing. Your emergency contact information will be managed in line with my practice privacy statement which is available for you to read.

Contact between sessions

Under normal circumstances it is encouraged that contact between client and therapist between sessions relates only to administrative tasks. The primary modes of contact will be:

Email: nelcounselling@outlook.com

Phone:

Limits of online therapy

Online counselling is a different experience compared to face to face in person therapy. Some differences might include the lack of visual or audio cues and lack of immediacy in responding. In my practice it is also not appropriate for severe presentations such as (but not limited to) acute suicide/self-harm risk, crisis situations or where immediate physical intervention may be necessary.

If you are in a crisis and need to speak to someone immediately, please contact your GP, the emergency services on 999, or the Samaritans on 116123.