Is Email Therapy Right for You? Exploring the Benefits of Digital Counseling

Is it impersonal?

How does it work?

Why would you try this type of therapy?

These are the main questions I asked myself when I considered undertaking the email counselling course. I thought to myself, I wanted to embrace something quite different and challenge myself to see different possibilities.

One of my thoughts, having worked within the mental health sector for the last 20 years, is that therapy needs to be accessible. It is no good if it can't be accessed. There is a lot of theory backing up the fact that the relationship between client and therapist is paramount to successful therapy. So, if you can create a bond or a relationship either in person, online or even over the telephone, then why can't the same words make that difference in writing? We talk about having a connection with poetry, books or letters from loved ones, so why couldn’t we have that connection to a therapeutic interaction in writing?

Having a pen pal feels a less common these days, but essentially anyone who has had a pen pal at some stage in the past will tell you that they have built a bond by writing to someone, and they have at times shared things with them that they haven’t with others. Having someone to write to has given people a little more freedom in what they write, and thinking more about what they would say to someone. I find there is a cathartic energy with writing your feelings be it journalling, writing lists, letter writing (sent or unsent). These are all creative therapy techniques that I sometimes work with or suggest outside of the therapy room.

Brief explanation of how it works

Having email counselling may differ between therapists but the process and time will almost be the same. So an enquiry is made like with any other type of therapy and the considerations to send in an introductory email, what to put, how long (typically 500 words, which is roughly one side of A4 typed), when to send by, and how long after you will get a reply. Once the time frame is agreed upon, I will usually identify a time on a day, i.e. midnight on a Friday for your email, and then the response can be expected within 48 hours later. If this goes well and you would want to proceed the dates and times are agreed. If the day to send is a Friday you could set yourself a date or time to write that suits you within your schedule or be flexible and just when the moment feels right. Once ready to send, payment as normal in therapy is in advance with your email and then the response is received within the agreed time.

An Email therapist will usually take at least the time for a usual therapy session to review your email and draft a response before reviewing and sending it back by the agreed deadline 48 hours later.

This will be continuous until a point where the ending will be agreed upon and two responses are asked to end as the therapist's last email will be the last one. This allows space to ask questions and contemplate any unfinished work to be responded to.

So who would this suit?

This style of therapy will suit many different people but is not limited to;

• ·       Those who work shifts and can't stick to consistent times,

• ·       carers – whose responsibilities mean they don’t always have the free time to book appointments.

• ·       People who are anxious about discussing their needs and may struggle in person.

• ·       People who feel embarrassed or ashamed of discussing their needs.

• ·       It could be somebody with issues that mean they can't meet face to face or have the space to do an online session with privacy.

• ·       Someone who wants to maintain their privacy.

Of course, everything has some drawbacks; some people benefit from seeing people in person only, Some manage an online or telephone session more easily. This may not suit everybody, but for those who may resonate with the points above, it may be an ideal way to access therapy.

See my guide for more information or feel free to message me and ask any questions directly.