Email Counselling Online

What is Email or Online Counselling?

Email counselling involves the client writing an email about what is troubling them; feelings, thoughts and what they are seeking help in dealing with. A reply called a Therapeutic Email will be sent back by me as a response; containing alternative ways to look at the situation, seeing other perspectives, helping to clarify issues, giving supportive, empathic and non-judgemental responses. Also, perhaps an insight and understanding to what has caused the problems, and identifying patterns and behaviours. My aim is to help my clients become clearer and more settled in their mind, gain understanding how to move forward and help themselves. Length of emails should be approx. 500 words, for both client emails and my responses.

Email counselling can be a convenient alternative to face to face appointments for people who are for some reason not able to get to booked sessions due to work commitments, living abroad, or simply prefer to write about their problems instead of talking about them face to face. Writing can help people be more honest, get to the issue quicker, clarify problems and have therapeutic effect simply by the process of writing to express emotions.

When will I get a reply?

A reply will be sent back to you within 72 hours. There are however, different options to choose from (see below) with regards to the frequency of the email counselling correspondence and packages. I will take my time to read through your email and respond within the agreed time. We can decide to write on specific days, weekly, fortnightly or monthly, for example, if you write to me every Monday, I will reply by Wednesday the latest. I have experience of working with a wide range of issues of varying complexities (see the About Me page for more info), such as depression, low self-esteem, confidence issues, loss and separation, anxiety and fears.

How do I get started?

1. Send me a brief email outlining the issues you are seeking help with (just a few sentences), including if you have previously been in counselling and if you have tried any solutions so far, what worked and what didn't work. This is free of charge.


2. I will respond with my ideas of possible ways we could work on the problem and send you a Counselling Form and Counselling Agreement for you to read through and return to me if you wish to proceed. You are welcome to ask any questions and opt out at any stage; there is no commitment to go ahead.


3. If you decide to go ahead, return the completed forms and send the full email of approx. 500 words, along with the payment of £25 through the Paypal checkout (you do not need a Paypal account there is an option to pay directly with card) and I will respond within 72 hours with a Therapeutic Email of approx. 500 words.

Packages for Email Counselling

Packages are designed to keep the costs down even further and offer a time period for you to return to writing when it feels right for you. I suggest having a regular correspondence however, deciding to write weekly, fortnightly or monthly depending on the intensity of your feelings. To have a regular time frame to write can help with processing feelings and give a sense of safety and containment. The 5 Email Package is valid for 6 months at time of purchase, and the 10 Email package is valid for 1 year. Please note Email Packages are non-refundable once purchased, but can be used for quite some time and at times you choose. Single Emails of £25 can be sent whenever you want, and if all you need is one email this is of course fine. I suggest you do a single email before buying a package to see if Email Counselling works for you.

Confidentiality

Your emails will be kept on a private USB memory stick which is stored and locked away safely. Everything you share is confidential. The only time I am obliged by law to break confidentiality is if you disclose intent to seriously harm yourself or others, abuse to a child or acts of terrorism.

What if I am in crisis and feeling suicidal?

Email counselling is not suitable of you are having suicidal thoughts. If you feel at risk of seriously harming yourself please contact the Samaritans helpline in the UK on 08457 90 90 90, or online at www.samaritans.org or contact your doctor immediately.