“The distance is nothing when one has a motive.” -Jane Austen-
As a systemic therapist who grew up in Austria and has resided in Mexico for many years, I am widely interested in the effect of culture on our individuality and our feelings. I consider myself not only bilingual, but also bicultural, because both the Austrian and the Mexican cultures have left lasting traces on my way of looking at the world.
Working with people with a migration and bicultural background has been very interesting and enriching in my professional career. The online therapy format opens up new opportunities for conversation with people from different contexts, places and nationalities, which deeply excites me.
ONLINE THERAPY
Online therapy can be just as effective as conventional face-to-face therapy. In my experience, both formats offer the opportunity to build aconstructive dialogue where results and objectives are accomplished.
Thanks to technological advances, we currently have access to a very high audio and video quality that allows us to establish a close contact in the sessions.
Advantages of online therapy
Accessibility: Online therapy is a useful alternative to traditional psychotherapy settings for people who are homebound for various reasons.
Time: Many people live with the challenge of integrating demanding work hours with other family and / or social needs. They are unable to take the time and go to an office for therapy. With internet access, online therapy offers a fast and flexible alternative.
Comfort: The client can participate in sessions in the place that is most comfortable and convenient for him. This aspect may be of special interest to people who feel ambivalent about taking therapy or who feel uncomfortable in social situations (due to anxiety problems or social phobias). Adolescents have also been found to frequently feel more comfortable with this format of therapy.
Opportunity for more frequent sessions: In case if a client finds himself in a delicate situation and requires more attention, it is more feasible to schedule appointments more frequently according to the needs of the moment.
Flexibility: This format allows scheduling therapy sessions at the most convenient time for the client.
No geographical limitations: This format opens up new opportunities for clients who live abroad and wish to have a therapist who parts from the same culture area and mother language.
Technical considerations
While the essence of the therapeutic process does not change, there are technical aspects that have to be taken into consideration for a comfortable online encounter:
It is important to find a space of confidentiality and privacy where the client can focus on his/her process without worrying about being heard by third parties and without distractions.
To avoid interruptions at the time of therapy, I recommend to make sure that there is adequate internet access or mobile data signal.
It is also advisable to use a good quality headset in order to ensure adequate listening between the client and the therapist, and to isolate the sound from possible noises in the context.
The client can choose the medium that suits him best for the session. The options are: Zoom, Skype or WhatsApp.
If couples therapy is required, the clients are asked to be physically separated to meet in the online space under the same circumstances as the therapist.