Phone Counseling - How Does It Measure Up?

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.

Just How Private Is Phone Counseling?

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.

Why is this the case? People on the telephone feel more secure and anonymous during the call. Therefore they simply share more quickly about what the issues are and are ready to receive advice. In live sessions an issue we call "transference" appears to be more active. Simply put, a client is more tentative the first time; may hold back for fear of looking bad or becoming embarrassed and they may have a need to be liked, which can get in the way of sharing in a more thorough manner.

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 Is Flexible!

Those who are attracted to phone counseling love the convenience of it. For example, I've counseling people while they were on a train, in an airport, commuting to or from work, changing a diaper, on lunch break at work and at work in the privacy of their own office. This list could go on.

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.

Phone Counseling Must Be Really Expensive, Right?

You may have already put this together from the previous paragraphs. How much would you estimate it might cost you to take time off work? Get child care? How much is it worth to you to travel to and from appointments? Live sessions across the US range anywhere from $65-$140 per hour. When adding in the items I mentioned above you can add another 15-20%. Using phone therapy can cost you 15-20% less than a scheduled sit-down appointment.

Isn't Phone Counseling A Cold Way To Receive Help?

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 Pay For 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.

Do you really want your insurance company to get involved? The ugly truth is that there is a national health record database. This database can be used to deny you insurance due to "pre-existing conditions." Of course we'd be hard pressed to get an insurance company to admit this, but many of you have already been laid victim to the nasty "pre-existing condition" clause. Keeping therapy private can be a huge life saver when you don't get turned down because you've sought out mental health care in the past.

Phone Counseling Wrap Up

Phone counseling isn't for everyone. If you'd really prefer to be 1:1 with a counselor, by all means, take that route. Other times individuals struggle terribly and become suicidal or even homicidal. Phone or online counseling is definitely not for you if you're in this shape. Call 911 or the national help line, 211 in case of emergency.

Phone counseling is a smashing success. And don't just take my word for it. Google "phone counseling research" and you will see that this approach is wildly successful and popular. The truth is that you, the consumer, are driving the need for phone counseling services. Every year the statistics go up. More people are searching for this service every month. Our job in the counseling profession is to meet you exactly where you're at and offer the high quality services we offer right in our offices.