Professional Counselling & Psychotherapy Online

The process of online therapy

• Online Therapy is confidential and safe and not that different from in person sessions.

• Internet video sessions (i.e. Zoom*, FaceTime) allow us to see each other's non-verbal communications, especially if the session includes our teaching you specific breath or meditation practices

• Telephone sessions offer a degree of anonymity with the same one-to-one contact

• We personally find it quite easy to make a connection with another whether in person, via telephone or using internet video. We are very aware of the energy that we all are, and this helps us to connect on a deeper level with people no matter the format of the communication

• We will arrange a mutually convenient time to talk, discuss telephone versus internet video options and any details about Zoom, Skype or FaceTime that you may not be aware of, and you will call us at the scheduled time

• Email follow-up contact is also available

• Payment can be made by: email money transfer/Interac, PayPal using my email address, cash, cheque (to Opening Works), or by credit card.

* Zoom is our new preferred online video tool

How to make the most of your personal online therapy experience

What is personal online therapy?

• Like in-person therapy or counselling sessions, connection and trust are of paramount importance.

• After years of working online and by telephone, we know that anyone can work via these mediums in a connected, heartfelt way.

• Essentially, together we create a safe place for you to explore your life issues and your more expansive sense of your self.

• After their first session, or part way through, most people either forget they are online, or realize it doesn’t make a difference to the depth of support and self-awareness they are experiencing.

What are the benefits of personal online therapy?

• Imagine all the benefits that come from being seen, heard, understood, and clearly mirrored by a caring person. This is the same for our online work with you.

• You choose your location and the comforts you would choose if you didn’t have to drive or ride the bus to an office building to see your therapist.

• No matter where you are, on vacation, at work, on a road trip, or at home, we are available online and by telephone. And, we have loads of experience communicating this way.

How do I schedule an appointment?

• The easiest way is to visit our online calendar:

• You will be asked to register. A short process that will allow you to book, change, or cancel appointments at your leisure.

• If you would rather, you can email us and let us know your best days/times and we will respond as soon as possible with options.

What if I am a new client?

• You can book online as described above.

• We also ask you to do two things on our Rates/Calendar page:

1. Download and fill out our New Client Intake Form, then email it to us prior to your appointment day

2. Take Enneagram test and email results to us prior to your appointment day

• If you have any specific questions you may also email us.

How do I prepare for a session?

• While it is hard to break the habit of rushing to and from appointments, distance therapy offers you the opportunity to be in the comfort of your own home or some other place where you have privacy and a strong internet signal.

• Give yourself time to be set up:

  • Ensure you have privacy for the whole period of your session (usually 60-70 minutes for individual sessions).  Let family know this is your time.

  • Choose a comfortable spot to sit. Consider your ability to relax in your location.

  • Turn your phone off to eliminate outside distractions.

  • If this is your first session, test your internet/wifi signal with a friend prior to your session.

  • Depending on your internet provider’s package, your bandwidth will determine how clear and stable your online session will be. You can increase bandwidth by asking others to not use the internet for your therapy time. Even a computer sitting ‘open’, connected to wifi, but not being used will reduce bandwidth.

  • Go online a few minutes before your scheduled time, so you are not rushing.

  • Breathe, sit quietly, and open to what is happening for you, in your life and in this moment.

  • Call us at the start time for your scheduled appointment

  • Head phones/ear buds with microphone make hearing and being heard much more effective, and increase your privacy

  • Tissues at hand are helpful.

Which online communication system is best for me?

• While internet signal or bandwidth is key to a ‘drop-free’ session, each of the online communication systems (i.e. Zoom, FaceTime) is fairly similar in its set up and operation.

• Try the ones you have available to you. Ask family or friends what they recommend in your particular geographical area.

• If you are unsure how to set up Zoom you can ask your nearest ten-year-old. (-;  We are also happy to walk you through the process if you have tried and been unsuccessful.

• FaceTime is for apple computer only, ipad and iphone users. You can call another FaceTimer using their iphone number or email address (depending on how you decide to use it).

• Telephone is a great backup system just in case the wifi is not functioning properly. And, some people have worked for long periods of time solely on the telephone, finding the experiences very positive.

• You get to choose.

How do I set-up Zoom, Skype and/or FaceTime?

            Set up is much easier than you might imagine, if not a daily computer user….

Zoom:

• Simply go to https://zoom.us/

• Follow the prompts to register for free

• There is no software to download

• When working with us one-to-one or in a group we will email you an invitation that you simply need to click on to join

• This simple system is our new favourite!

FaceTime:

• FaceTime is for Apple/Mac product users. If your computer/ipad/iphone are relatively new you will find FaceTime is already on your computer

• Look for this icon . It may also be gray in colour.

• If you are using your computer, FaceTime will likely already be turned on. If on iphone/ipad you may need to turn it on.

• For set up information, check out this link’s description: (https://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/set-up-apples-facetime-and-make-it-always-work)

• Any difficulties please check with us and we can probably walk you through the process.

How do I increase the likelihood of a strong internet connect?

• As mentioned, here are the most important supports for a strong internet/wifi connection:

  • Find out how ‘fast’ your provider’s package is. You may find it worthwhile to increase your bandwidth by updating your package.

  • Turn off/put in ‘airplane mode’ other computers, phones, tablets in the house that are using wifi bandwidth simply by being on.

  • Ask family to reduce time on wifi during your session.

  • Consider sitting closer to your internet router. Walls, ceilings, furniture etc can block, or reduce, wifi signals.

  • Do not choose to sit at a wifi café, unless you have no other choice, for your session. It limits privacy and bandwidth. That being said we have worked with clients from as far away as an India based wifi café without problems.

What issues can I expect?

• Like any Skype-style call, the signal can fluctuate and a call can be ‘dropped’.

  • This happens occasionally, and if it persists we will suggest changing communication devices, or we will call you via telephone.

  • This ‘dropping’ of online sessions is quite rare, and simply one more thing to take into your personal contemplation of how you experience life.

• Echoing sounds can usually be remedied simply by using headphones/earbuds.

Please contact us if you have any questions: kira@openingworks.com edward@openingworks.com