What is Online Counselling?

Like the title suggests, online counselling is a descriptive term used to present supportive mental health counselling that you can receive from the comfort of your own home in front of your PC or on your smartphone through a counselling app.

Often referred to as “e-counselling” or “internet counselling,” online counselling is not designed for people who are in the midst of a mental health crisis or who need urgent medical assistance. Rather, it is a way for people to get easy, convenient, and reliable counselling backup support that tends to be much cheaper than in-person counselling. In addition, online counselling can also be a great help for people who have mobility and transport issues or simply live too far away from an accredited counsellor for the service to be convenient.

The best counselling apps and counselling platforms offer secure and confidential access to registered, accredited therapists, who offer many types of support for everything from depression and anxiety to relationship challenges. 

How Does Online Counselling Work?

At Counselling Fraser Coast Ronald Cruickshank offers three main types of counselling support: real-time chat face-to-face in person, video chat through Skype, Zoom, and WhatsApp, and phone chat through Messenger and FaceTime.

Email and text message counselling is popular with people who want to be able to consider their questions and responses, and then write them out. These conversations tend to not be free-flowing like with phone or video chats, but being able to write out what you want to say can be preferable, and it provides a record of your meeting that can be looked back over at your leisure. Typically these chats are done through your personal email to Ron, secure email provided through the site, which can help safeguard your anonymity.

Video chat will require a reliable internet connection and will allow you to speak with counsellor Ron face-to-face in real time, if not in the same room. It is intimate, personal, and allows you to establish a good rapport that can be more challenging with the written word.

Real time video chat puts you into a secure line and allows you to chat back and forth with counsellor Ron in the moment. Think of it like having your own personal, private chat room with a skilled and experienced counsellor who is there to listen to what ever yiou need to explore and point you in the best direction.

When you book online for an online counselling service, you will typically be asked to provide your contact information after you have selected your day and time. This will enable Ron to send you a Zoom link by text or email for your online video counselling session. When you connect into your counselling video session you will quickly determine which sorts of issues you’re challenged with, these will be used to help Ron match you with the best style of specialized counselling for your concerns.

If you’re seeking for online counselling for your child or teenager, Ron will ask you a lot of questions about what you think the child needs help with, before sending the child an invitation on your behalf. You are most welcome to remail in the video session with your child to offer support and help you to be on the same page as work focus begins.

How Much Does Online Counselling Cost?

The prices for counselling, both online and face-to-face may vary depending on on the amount of time spent with counsellor Ron, but typically for online counselling services Ron will charge a monthly fee to use the service, and won't charge by minute or hour or text. Face-to-face and video sessions will be charged at a set rate and may go for one hour to one and a half hours depending on your needs. Live phone, and video sessions range from $65 to $90 per session. Ronald Cruickshank offers this free counseling app that you can download if you prefer to communicate via your smartphone or tablet or over your computer, and keep meditations and links at your fingertip. 

Most online counseling is not covered by insurance, so while it’s cheaper than in-person therapists, you will typically have to pay out of pocket. The charge for a face-to-face counselling session is generally cheaper than the gap fee charged by psychologist and Better Health Plan fees.