Online Therapy & Psychotherapy UK - Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy

What is Online Therapy?

Whilst counselling and psychotherapy is traditionally delivered in person in a clinic setting, therapy can just as successfully be delivered in using videoconferencing technology.

Online therapy and counselling is virtually identical to face-to-face therapy and can be used to offer counselling and psychotherapy to individuals and couples remotely via a secure connection.

There are many advantages to having therapy online and perhaps the most important is the accessibility and convenience of it. If you are unable to travel to the clinic for any reason, or indeed don’t want to travel to the clinic, you will still be able to access psychotherapy online.

How does it work?

The technology needed for online working is the standard tech that you will find on most smartphones, tablets and computers. Applications such as Skype, Zoom, FaceTime and WhatsApp can be used for videoconferencing, and all of these are considered secure as they work on an encrypted connection. You will need a good internet connection, such as your home or office Wifi, and if you have good reception, your mobile data plan can also be used.

If you want to work online with your therapist, make sure you are comfortable and are used to the technology you will be using. Test it out first!

You also need to make sure that the location you are calling from is secure and private and you won’t be disturbed or overheard. Your therapist will also be in a confidential and private location, so your confidentiality will be guaranteed from the therapist’s end.

You will also need to consider what you will do after the session has ended. Do you have time to compose yourself before you stop outside the room and go back to your everyday life?

Here are a few points you might want to consider if you want to access therapy online:

You will need to have a good, stable internet connection for the duration of your session.
It is best to have a few connection options available – such as wifi and data, and a couple of different options of apps – such as Skype and Zoom, to allow for technical difficulties.
You need to be comfortable working online and familiar with the tech you are using. It’s a good idea to turn off any notifications on your device for the duration of your session as these are very distracting when you are trying to work with your therapist.
You need to ensure that the location you are in is private and confidential.

How do I choose a therapist to work with?

Choosing a counsellor, psychotherapist of psychologist from our team to for online psychotherapy or counselling is much the same as choosing whom you would like to see if you were working face-to-face.

The approach of each of our therapists and their boundaries will remain the same as if you were working with them in person. Most important is to choose a clinician whom you believe can help you and whom you are drawn to working with.

All therapists at Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy are qualified and experienced and used to delivering online therapy.

How do I get started?

The first place to start is in either hiking about the therapeutic approach you are drawn to, or in reading through our list of associates.

Everybody in our team can be contacted directly using their online form or, if you are unsure whom to choose, you can contact us directly and we will be happy to assist you in finding the right clinician to work with.

After contacting your chosen therapist, they will make arrangements with you to either have an initial telephone call or to schedule a consultation online at a mutually convenient time. Thereafter, should you both agree to work together, therapy will generally be weekly for the duration of your treatment.

What types of online therapy are available?

Online Anxiety Counselling: It’s normal to feel anxious from time to time, it’s the body’s natural fight or flight response to perceived danger. But some anxiety can be caused by a long-term issue. Read more…

Online Depression Counselling: There are many reasons why depression can develop and it can feel isolating and overwhelming, impacting many areas of your life. Read more…

Online Relationship Counselling: Every relationship goes through challenging times, however, if you find that your partner and you argue and bicker a lot, there may be an underlying issue. Read more…

Covid-19 / Coronavirus

Working online with a therapist during the period of social-distancing and self-isolation resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic can provide you with an effective means of accessing therapy whilst ensuring compliance with government and Public Health England guidelines.

All the content on this page has been reviewed and vetted by Mark Vahrmeyer UKCP Registered Psychotherapist, Supervisor and Co-Founder of Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy. For any questions or more information about the subjects discussed on this page please contact us.

We spend much of our lives online these days and increasingly more services are available online that traditionally would have been conducted face to face. This is the same with psychotherapy and counselling, and there is a growing availability of online therapy services around on the internet. So, is online therapy for you?

There are many ways to engage in therapy online, but for the purposes of this blog I’ll be considering online therapy that uses live video. This can be done with apps such as: Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp, FaceTime, BotIM etc. Whatever app is used, the most important thing to consider is the security. Only use an app that has a secure and encrypted connection.

There are many benefits to having therapy online and the most obvious might be the convenience of it. Rather than having to spend time travelling to a clinic, you can be at a location of your choice where you feel comfortable. This might be at home, in a private office at work during your lunch break, or anywhere where it is confidential and you won’t be overheard or disturbed. However, you will need to consider what you will do after the session has ended. Do you have time to compose yourself before you step outside the room and back to the office or family life?

Another benefit of working online is that you might have a greater choice of therapists available to you. Rather than having to choose those in your local area, you can work with the therapist of your choice wherever they are in the country. This can be particularly beneficial if you live in a remote area, or live abroad and want a therapist who speaks your native language. Additionally, if you travel around a lot, it can make it possible to access therapy wherever you might be.

Another advantage of online therapy is that it can make it easier to engage with therapy if you are anxious about going to a clinic in the first place, or have any difficulties with leaving home or accessing certain locations. Being able to engage with your therapist online can remove any of these potential barriers and you can get the support you need.

A lot of people wonder if online therapy is as good as face to face therapy, and that is an important point to consider. Certainly, there is a big difference. The rapport and connection you have face to face with a therapist will be different to what you build online. Some of the non-verbal clues to communication can be lost online so it’s important to be able to tell your therapist if they haven’t understood you, or if you don’t understand them. However, once you get used to working online with a therapist, the distance and technology can ‘disappear’ and you can feel very connected with your therapist.

Here are a few points you might want to consider if you want to access therapy online:

You will need to have a good, stable internet connection for the duration of your session.
It is best to have a few connection options available – such as wifi and data, and a couple of different options of apps – such as Skype and Zoom, to allow for tech difficulties.
You need to be comfortable working online and familiar with the tech you are using. It’s a good idea to turn off any notifications for the duration of your session as these are very distracting when you are trying to work with your therapist.
You need to ensure that the location you are in is private and confidential.
You should check the credentials and qualifications of your therapist before you engage in any online therapy. There is a growing number of people setting up online as ‘therapists’ with little or no training. Make sure your therapist is registered with a professional body such as UKCP.

Dr Simon Cassar is an integrative existential therapist, trained in Person Centred Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Existential Psychotherapy. He is available in our Hove and Lewes clinics and also works online.

Further reading by Dr Simon Cassar –

Student mental health – how to stay healthy at university

Four domains – maintaining wellbeing in turbulent times

What is an integrative existential therapist?

What is Existential Psychotherapy – Video