Phone Counseling - It's What's For Dinner!
Written by DaveTuro-Shields,LCSW,CEC on Fri, 22 Aug 2008
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First, what is phone counseling? The name pretty much tells it all. Phone counseling takes place between a therapist and a client. The numbers of individuals seeking help online by searching for "phone counseling" are rising each month and have been for over 8 years. On my site someone will read about the service, pay online for a session, then my intake coordinator calls and schedules an appointment usually within 24-48 hours from payment. This makes turn-a-round time very quick. Contrast that with the normal wait periods of the majority of hospital clinics of 2 to 3 weeks before one can be seen for an intake session. Other times, a client may have questions so they might email first, asking for clarification or wondering if we can help with their particular problem.
Phone Counseling And Confidentiality
For the most part, phone counseling is as private as you make it. In a Nielson privacy study, they found out that the larges privacy breach with any online activity happens in the home. You read that right. The personal privacy scare is certainly a threat, but the most current research would shave that concern down dramatically. Basically what they are telling us is that mom, who was purchasing a phone counseling session online at a website, leaves that website open and her child sees the web page and inquires about it. This is the kind of breach we're looking at. The other privacy potential problem is having someone pick up on the telephone line you're using for your session. Keep these things in mind as you start phone counseling.
Comparing Live Counseling Sessions With Phone Counseling
I believe nothing beats face-to-face counseling. So why have I offered phone counseling for the past 10 years? Because it works! And individuals specifically request it more and more. Over the years I've noticed some powerful advantages of phone counseling over sitting with a client.
Most all of us have a need to please other people. A client sitting in a session should be focused on their needs, not the therapists needs. However, would you think a client still wants the therapist to like them in a live session? Phone counseling has taught me that there is a lot more of that going in in live sessions than we might like to admit. I came to that conclusion years ago as I noticed how direct phone clients can be. If they feel I'm heading down the wrong path, they're quick to tell me. Other times, they share pertinent information that they may have held back for a number of sessions, maybe because they would have felt embarrassed sharing it live.
Phone clients also tend to share more deeply very quickly. There's something about being behind a phone that feels safer and therefore clients disclose private information easier than in face-to-face. These are two fantastic facts that lead to a shorter number of sessions to complete our goals.
Phone Therapy Fits Busy Schedules
In a fast-paced world phone therapy is incredibly flexible and you can fit it to YOUR schedule. Most times you have to work around a therapists schedule. I've counseled people while they walk, before they head off to work, during lunch time, while on a commute train to work, or in the car as they drive to or from work.
We all live in a busy world with busy lives. This is one way practitioners can adapt to people's lives. Clients are very grateful for it. Other clients suffer so severely from issues such as agoraphobia that they cannot leave the house. We've counseled and prepared people to leave the house while on a cell phone and work directly with their anxiety right in the moment. Now that's meeting a client exactly where they are at.
What Is The Cost Of Phone Counseling?
Phone counseling is no more expensive that live sessions. And some mix up online email counseling with phone counseling for even better results. The bottom line is that phone counseling is affordable and efficient.
Doesn't Phone Counseling Bring Less Connection With The Therapist?
The rapport between therapist and client is the highest predictor of counseling success. I use to be a non-believer and you will find many therapists that crucify phone counseling for this very reason. The problem with these therapists is that they have never done an official phone counseling session. The fact is that I have been personally shocked at the connection I can develop over the phone in just one session. It'e remarkable and it makes sense then that phone counseling is very successful.
Will Your Insurance Carrier Cover Phone Counseling?
Always call your insurance carrier and ask. I wouldn't have recommended that until the past two years. Many insurance companies are beginning to see the benefits of online counseling and phone counseling.
My practice has had two EAP contracts in the last two years specifically to deliver counseling services through email and by phone. Most likely your insurance carrier will say no, but let them know when you call that it's a service you'd like to see them cover in the future.
Can Anyone or Everyone Benefit From Phone Counseling?
Phone counseling is definitely not for everyone. Clients who are suicidal or afraid they might hurt someone should seek immediate help from a quality, local counseling center. In fact, these folks should seek emergency care immediately. The other gray area is working with someone under the age of 18. We get requests from teenagers for phone therapy and we do work with some of them. As long as they seek permission from their parents and we get the appropriate consent forms signed it can work. It does take longer as we expect a notarized consent form in the mail before we'll even consider working with a teenager.
That being said, it should be obvious by now that phone counseling works. In one study, over 97% of those who'd sought online or phone therapy would do so again. It's fast, efficient, private, flexible and affordable. If you're struggling it's definitely a try to contact a phone counselor.
About the Author
Phone counseling meets you where you're at.. any time, on your schedule and it's cost-effective, private and works. Go on over to http://www.CounselingPros.com and learn what you need to in order to make the right decision for you.
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