One of the key things to remember is that telephone counselling is totally confidential. Your therapist will be non-judgemental and will aim to build a relationship between you based upon trust. You will be able to speak just as openly as when you are face-to-face whilst your therapist listens, thinks and intervenes only when necessary.
Whilst it is different from sitting in front of your counsellor i.e. there is no eye contact or any visual clues, it can be just as effective and the process has been around for more than forty years.
Depending upon which type of phone therapist you choose, they will work with a specific set of theories and types of therapy, some being more suited to phone use than others.
You don’t need to worry about lack of confidentiality
Whilst you will not be sitting in the therapist’s office, your confidentiality will be maintained. During your first telephone counselling session, your therapist will discuss disclosure with you and clarify their and your responsibilities when it comes to trust and security of information. This is a good time for you to ask about notes that will be made about you, who will have access to them, how they are stored and whether or not you can see them.
Because you are calling your counsellor by phone, either mobile or landline, this will show on your bill, particularly if it is itemised. If you share a phone with someone else or pay for your session by credit or debit card, a record will be made on your statement. Whilst this may not be a problem for you, it needs to be taken into account.
Your first phone therapy session
Your first phone therapy session is likely to be in the region of 50 – 60 minutes duration. You may find it helpful to make a list of things that you want to talk about, including any questions you may have. You can also use this time to ensure that telephone counselling is in fact suitable for the issues that you are suffering from. This will also avail you of the opportunity to decide if you are happy with your chosen counsellor or whether you wish to change to another one. Having confidence in your telephone counsellor and forming a relationship is crucial if good progress is to be made.
Do not feel obligated to continue after your first session. You should ascertain whether or not one session is sufficient or will you need more and if so, how many? You can then plan ahead based upon how you feel about the process, your budget and your therapist’s availability. If you decide to commit to a series of sessions, a telephone counselling contract can be arranged which will show the frequency of appointments, length of time, and time of day and how many are needed. Arrangements between you should be transparent and clear and you should feel happy with them at all times.
Going forward
At the end of your series of sessions, you can both review progress, how the counselling has helped you and how to go forward. If required, you can renew your contract for a further period of time.
We make it easy for you to find the ideal telephone counsellor. Check out our site now, send us your details and let us put you in touch with someone that can help.
