July 30, 2020
Are you feeling more stressed or isolated?
All our lives have changed dramatically in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Everything from our health services, to our food shopping, to our day to day living has been affected. As well as this, with social distancing and self-isolation in practice, it is unsurprising that this is having an impact on our mental health. The underlying stress that the pandemic has caused may not even be obvious to you, but it can impact our lives in many ways. Therefore, access to online therapy services are now essential.
Accessing online therapy
Privacy
Find a quiet, private space where you can close the door and not be overheard. Sometimes this is difficult in busy households with children off school or shared accommodation. Online therapy sessions can often be flexibly timed, to suit your needs and circumstances.
Wearing headphones is also recommended to block out any background noise and the voice of the therapist. A useful tip is removing or muting notifications that may distract you whilst on using the computer or laptop for online therapy.
Treat online therapy like a face-to-face session
It might feel strange speaking via video conferencing at first. Make sure you are comfortable, feeling awake and fresh. Distractions are often unavoidable, but try to reduce them as much as possible.
Try not to hold back. It can feel different to when you are sitting in the same room as a therapist. Some people may find the computer a barrier in the beginning, but get used to the change and can freely process their feelings and thoughts. Other people enjoy the fact that they are not sitting so close to the therapist and can often find they are more inclined to open up that way.
If you are staying home more at this time, perhaps working at home, you might be feeling isolated from people. Working with a therapist online can actually be a helpful way to stay connected with the world.
Your therapist is there to help, support and will help you through the process, so you can discuss any feelings of vulnerability.
Current Practice at Insight Counselling Brighton and Hove
Claire at Insight Counselling Brighton and Hove is choosing to continue to work online with clients, instead of returning to face to face therapy for the foreseeable future. This allows:
- Counselling and therapy sessions in the comfort of your own home
- Flexibility – no need to travel. This is helpful if you’re self-isolating
- Day time and evening sessions are available
For more information on our online therapy, don’t hesitate to get in touch using the contact page or by emailing info@insightcounsellingbrighton.co.uk
Now is the time to get the online support you need.
If you are still unsure about whether now is the right time to contact a therapist, take a look at the article on this site: When is the Right Time to See a Counsellor – for further information about the therapeutic process.