Online Counselling Services on the Rise in UK

May 6, 2009 - PRLog -- Facebook, MySpace, Twitter are testament to the reach and influence of the internet and to the evolution of traditional social contact. So it is too with psychological therapies, which are increasingly being offered ‘online’.

Harley Therapy has launched an online counselling service in response to requests for quality counselling outside its central London practices.

Whether you are in London, Ontario or London, England, you can now access a professionally trained counsellor through the internet.

Online counselling typically entails a 50 minute interactive counselling session. If you have a webcam you can see and talk to the therapist directly. Many of the elements of a traditional counselling session are preserved. If you don’t have a webcam, then it is possible to communicate in real-time with Windows MSM or Yahoo Messenger or Skype.

Dr Sheri Jacobson whose psychotherapy and counselling training spanned 9 years was initially sceptical about this mode of therapy. “I thought that the dynamic of live face-to-face contact and its associated non-verbal cues would be lost in online counselling. Also, in a regular counselling we can provide a safe physical space free from interruption, whereas online counselling relies on the client setting this up. However, I have come to appreciate that there is a growing demand for services through the internet. In particular, online counselling suits those individuals who travel frequently or who live abroad.”
Conducted properly, online therapy can have many advantages. Dr Jacobson remarks that “it’s interesting to learn of research studies that have suggested communication via a webcam can lower people’s inhibitions. Some people feel more open on a webcam and may be quicker to reveal personal problems than in person. “
For some, online therapy is a way of dipping their toes into the world of therapy but for many others it replaces weekly face-to-face sessions.
With the advent of online support groups and computer therapy programs  such as the government-backed ‘Beating the Blues’,  we are likely to see more demand of online counselling services.  

Harley Therapy’s counselling psychologists work with all issues including anger management http://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/anger-management-counselli... and addiction counselling http://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/addiction-counselling-lond...

Click here to find out more about online therapy and counselling services: http://www.harleytherapy.co.uk/online-counselling-psychol...




Online therapy and counselling

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Harley Therapy is a Psychotherapy and Counselling Agency established in Central London, connecting highly qualified therapists with private clients. Counselling Psychologists specialise in all areas of mental health including depression, anxiety, stress, sexual problems, anger management and more.