"... never thought I could get so much out of a conversation over webcam."
Since the covid lockdowns, it's genuinely become part of how I work, though for some people it's still a little unfamiliar.
Conversations over webcam aren't a watered-down version of sessions in a consulting room. Because you're at ease, in your own familiar surroundings, the conversation sometimes even gets to the heart of what's going on faster.
With online counselling, it doesn't matter whether you live near my base in The Hague, or anywhere else in the world.
Online Counselling
It happens regularly that I speak with clients both in the consulting room and over video call. We sometimes call that a "hybrid trajectory".
Research shows that online psychosocial support is often experienced as having a lower threshold, because clients don't have to feel ashamed about what's going on. Without the confrontation, judging glances, or a full waiting room, they can get straight to the point.
Other research shows that online conversations generally run more efficiently and in a more structured way. The outcomes of online sessions are broadly comparable, and in some cases have even proven slightly better, than face-to-face sessions.
The connection runs through a secure platform, for which no account needs to be created. You click a link and you're already in the digital waiting room, where I'll collect you at the agreed time.
Boundary conditions such as confidentiality work exactly the same as in a conversation in the consulting room: my professional confidentiality obligation remains unchanged.
Make sure you have a quiet place where no one can overhear you, and a stable connection. I'll take care of the rest.