Not everybody can or wants to attend face-to-face counselling in a counsellor’s office. Life today is extremely busy, and most people are time poor. Having to travel to see a counsellor for an hour and then travel back home is not always convenient.
Distance also is a barrier for many people as while they would like to see a particular counsellor the travel time and distance involved makes it impossible.
StartPoint counselling has introduced online face-to-face counselling using a secure meeting platform.
Benefits Of Online Face-To-Face Counselling
Accessibility
Sessions can be inducted using a smartphone, tablet or a computer with a WebCam and microphone
Done over a secure meeting platform available on Android, Apple or Windows devices
Not limited by location (available in Australia only)
Suitable for those unable to leave home, or who are physically disabled
Maybe preferred by those who embrace technology
Convenient for
Those uncomfortable with traditional in-office therapy
Those wanting to reduce costs by not having to travel
those wanting to check out a counsellor before actually committing to face-to-face in office sessions
Short (less than one hour) follow-up sessions
Busy people for whom time is a limited resource
Reduces social stigma for
Those uncomfortable with coming to counselling rooms
Those in small communities who do not want to see someone who might know them or their family
Reduces anxiety
For those who feel anxious in social situations as it creates a feeling of distance between the counsellor and client
For those clients who do not want to leave their home and will, therefore, feel a sense of being in their comfort zone
Limitations
Not suitable for clients with suicidal thoughts or severe depression
Not suitable for clients with constant distractions around them while online
Can at times suffer technical problems
Only available in Australia
Requirements
A quiet distraction-free place to talk from
High-speed Internet connection on a tablet, smartphone or computer.
You will need to install a small program to connect with StartPoint counselling. Instructions provided once you indicate that you want to use the system
