Finding the right online counsellor

Finding the right professional to talk to online can seem like a difficult task but knowing what to look for can help. Below is a succinct guide that will help you make the right choice.

1. Look for bonafide and universally recognised qualifications. There are numerous coaching and counselling practitioners, some of whom have completed some study or who may have no formal qualification that is recognised by any official counselling and therapeutic bodies. Check the practitioner's website or social media page for qualifications that indicate they have gone through credible and recognised training and assessment. Most bonafide practitioners will have qualifications that are endorsed by a peak counselling body such as the Australian Counselling Association #australiancounsellingassociation or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia #pacfa

2. Check the number of years they have been practising. Reading their website, blog or social media posts should also help to identify whether they have had a substantial amount of experience with clients.

3. Check the counsellor's area of expertise and make sure your issue falls within their skills and abilities.

4. A professional counselling practitioner must observe an ethical framework and the rule of confidentiality. You should be presented with a consent form which ensures confidentiality, details your rights and the process of engagement with your counsellor. As part of the counselling process you will be disclosing private and potentially sensitive information about yourself, so a consent form provides clear boundaries for both you and the counsellor.

5. You should not feel compelled to complete a certain number of consultations. The counsellor may propose a program for you and indicate a suggested frequency of sessions depending on the issue and their professional opinion, however you still have the right to decide if that feels right to you.

6. For the same reason, you should not be locked into paying ahead for a set number of sessions. You need an opportunity to see how initial sessions go and whether you connect with the counsellor before committing to further sessions.

7. If you’re unsure about the online platform (E.g. Google Meet) that the counsellor is using, make sure you are provided with adequate information about how to connect to your online session on the day. They may offer you a test session where you can briefly check the connection and make sure your camera and sound/volume are working.

8. As the client, you should be doing the majority of the talking during the session. Your counsellor should be skilled at asking questions that open up the conversation for you. If you feel that the counsellor has not heard you properly or has made an assumption that isn't quite accurate, you should feel comfortable to say so.

9. You should feel that your counsellor understands the feelings and thoughts that you've been having. You will recognise this throughout the session by the way the counsellor reframes and reflects back to you in their own words what it is you've been expressing and checks with you whether their summation is correct.

10. If you feel that a particular approach or strategy doesn't sit right with you and isn't working for you, you should be able to express this to your counsellor who should then discuss another alternatives with you.

11. You should not have any sense of being judged, regardless of what you divulge to the counsellor.

12. In the same way that all humans are different, so too are counsellors. They will vary in style, approach, methodology and personality. Don't worry if, on your first session, you feel there is a mismatch between yourself and a practitioner. There is nothing wrong with you or the counsellor. It's about finding the right match. Don't be afraid to try somebody different. Connection between yourself and the counsellor is an important prerequisite to an effective counselling experience.

13. You should be consulted during and at the end of your session for your impressions about how the session went and whether you feel it was helpful for you. Any suggestions you put forward should be noted and revisited in the subsequent session.

#findingtherightcounsellor #onlinecounselling #guidetofindingtherightcounsellor