Many people find that having their therapy sessions online is a convenient and time-effective option, particularly if they work during the day or have other commitments that make it more difficult to attend appointments in person.
At Turning Tides Psychology, we provide the option to all clients to have their sessions over video call or telephone if this is their preference. As well as providing more flexibility to clients, it allows us to work with people from all over the UK.
Online therapy is any form of counselling or therapy that is delivered via the Internet. The most popular type of online therapy — and the type that has the most evidence for effectiveness — is video therapy. This is usually conducted over a video call platform such as Zoom and allows you to access the same quality of support that you could access face-to-face.
This can be more convenient for people and some simply prefer to be in their own safe space when talking about difficult issues. Online therapy grew in popularity during the Covid pandemic and since then, it has remained the first choice for many clients who value the option to access therapy remotely.
Our clinical psychologists will use a video conferencing platform such as Zoom to meet with you online. If you aren’t sure about the technology, they will talk you through exactly what you need to do to join your session. Once you are online, it is exactly like an in-person therapy appointment. The care you receive will not differ, whether you choose online or face-to-face so it comes down to personal preference and circumstances.
During sessions, you must have a quiet, comfortable and confidential space where you won’t be disturbed. You will get the most out of therapy if you treat your online appointments as you would treat a face-to-face appointment. This means you might want to switch your phone to Do Not Disturb, remove any pets or distractions from the room, and pop a note on the front door for any delivery drivers!
Our online video sessions are generally conducted over Zoom, though if this platform doesn’t suit you then we are happy to discuss other options. You do not need to pay for a Zoom subscription to access the sessions.
You will receive an email with a link to join your online appointment, before the time of your session. The great thing about online video therapy is that you can see your therapist, and they can see you. This allows your therapist to notice your body language and facial expressions, which can give them important information about how you are feeling.
Video Therapy -We understand that video calls aren’t for everybody and some people have a preference for telephone appointments if they want to access therapy remotely. We are happy to accommodate this and can offer telephone therapy to clients across the UK. If this is your preferred method then your therapist will arrange an appointment time with you and agree on which contract number they should call you on. As with online therapy, we ask that you have a quiet, confidential space to take the call, where you can speak freely.
As some of the work we do is quite visual – for example, we might share certain diagrams with you or draw out cycles of behaviour, your therapist may email you these resources either before or after your call. This means you don’t miss out on this aspect of therapy, as it can help gain a deeper understanding of the issues you talk about in sessions.
Telephone Therapy -Yes! Online therapy has become more popular in recent years, and we are seeing more research comparing the effectiveness of online therapy to face-to-face therapy. The good news is that many studies show that with an effective therapist, online therapy can provide the same results as receiving therapy in person.
Take CBT as an example, in 2020 there was a review carried out of 17 studies comparing online CBT to face-to-face CBT and it found that receiving therapy online for depression may be more effective than receiving therapy in person!
At Turning Tides Psychology, we have first-hand experience of seeing the positive benefits that online therapy can provide. A recent client who accessed therapy online told us:
‘I feel so much better, I’m not as anxious and don’t get worried about things so easily. My anxiety is no longer stopping me from doing things. It feels like I have control of my life back.’
There are multiple benefits of choosing to have therapy online, including:
At Turning Tides, our team of Psychologists are highly trained and have many years of experience working with a range of mental health difficulties.
Our therapists are all fully qualified in using multiple therapeutic approaches and they can integrate different aspects of these approaches to ensure your sessions meet your individual needs.
Therapy aims to provide you with the tools you need to be able to manage your mental health independently. Our psychologists can help you to understand your difficulties, exploring some of the different factors that have brought you to where you are today. Based on these individual factors, they will teach you strategies to effectively manage your mental health and allow you to move forward in your life.
Contact us Turning Tides today.
We have tried to keep our pricing as simple as possible. We charge £120 for a 60-minute appointment, regardless of whether this is an assessment or therapy session. Our fees are the same for face-to-face appointments and online appointments as you will receive the same high standard of care from our psychologists, regardless of how it is delivered.
A psychologist will then be in touch to arrange a free 15-minute no-obligation call, where we can discuss your requirements in more detail and you can get a feel for whether Turning Tides is the right psychology practice for you.
If we’re not right for you, we’ll try and signpost you to somewhere that is.
Please note – Turning Tides is not a crisis service, and if you feel you need urgent support or are experiencing a mental health crisis then it is important that you contact your GP if they are available, or attend A&E.