EIGHT THINGS TO EXPECT FROM YOUR FIRST ONLINE COUNSELING SESSION

DEFINITION

Online counseling refers to professional mental/psychological health care counseling services through the internet (social platform). The advent of modern computers and applications has given ease to connect individuals seeking counseling services with the trained professional counselors. Client- therapist face to face communication, sitting at distant places is possible due to technical advancement to communicate. Hence, this Online counseling is also known as web counseling as it covers a wide range of mediums right from messages to video chats.

8 THINGS TO EXPECT FROM YOUR FIRST ONLINE COUNSELING SESSION AREAS FOLLOWS:

1. PAIRING PACE WITH THE THERAPIST:

Consulting a therapist who understands you as a person and your needs for seeking therapy. The counseling fits your personality- it helps you to out reach your mental goals.you should sense a feeling of contentedness with the therapist and make sure that the therapist maintains a professional relationship with you(client).

2. IS AWARE OF YOUR PERSONAL HISTORY AND CURRENT SITUATION:

Conducting a LIFE REVIEW process by asking a series of questions about past incidents For example, because family situations play an important role in who you are, he’ll ask about your family history and your current family situation. And even going through the client's childhood pics.

3. WHY YOU SOUGHT THERAPY: 

A particular issue probably led you to seek counseling. The therapist has to understand your surface problems before he can get to the deeper issues (which is actual psychological problems), in the beginning sessions.

4. TAKES TIME: 

You should expect to devote at least a designated amount of months required for the entire therapy process, and more likely much longer (probably six months); right from the beginning. Understanding that building a rapport with the client takes time. There are modalities of therapy out there that work very quickly to reduce specific symptoms or to resolve very specific problem. When you decide to proceed with an online therapist who works on a deeper level to help you know and understand the full range of your thoughts and feelings, helps you to have an insight about yourself and then peeling back those layers, this takes time. Frame this for yourself as part of your ongoing self-care practice. Make it a ritual right from the start to attend all the therapy session, just like eating food might be. You don’t eat only for 3 months and then deciding to skip eating meals and expecting that you will get in shape. You will appear skinny and full of bones but not lean and fit, correct? Online therapy works on same principle, and if you want to invest in yourself for a lifetime, then you should expect to engage in ongoing sessions. Be consistent! And give yourself time and pace.

5. DARE TO STICK ON TO THE THERAPY:

When it is your first online session, you may experience some strange and weird feeling, at some point, thoughts of wanting to discontinue the session altogether or even give callous comments about the therapist. This is because the therapist seems to be a completely strange person trying to know your dark dug secrets. It can be hard to open yourself up to an online therapist, especially if you are dealing with anxiety or depression. You might even have some negative feelings come up towards your therapist. This is all a completely normal part of the process. Developing trust takes time but, make sure to challenge yourself to stick around for a set amount of time that you decide in advance, and also challenge yourself to let your therapist know all the thoughts and feelings you are having about the therapist and about the therapy. Be mentally prepared for it at the very beginning.

6. BE OPEN AND PREPARED:

You expect the therapist to ask right questions with a polite tone that you answer it in an open and honest way. It's said that never to hide anything from your doctor and lawyer. A therapist is a doctor, in a way treating your mental health. So before you get to the session, know how to describe “what’s wrong,” and to describe your feelings about your problem. One way to prepare is to write down the reasons you’re seeking help. Make a list and then read it out loud. Hearing yourself say it a few times will help you describe things more clearly to the therapists.

7. ASK QUESTIONS: 

A lot of things will be going in your head in the first session. You expect the therapist to ask comfortable questions to ease the client right from the beginning of the first session. Listen to your own reactions and feelings, and share them with the therapist. This helps in developing rapport and gaining insight of your problem. Don't feel shy while asking intimate questions.

8. CONSISTENCY:

Expect to engage in your online therapy sessions with consistency and regularity, from the very first session. Knowing that your online therapist will have an appointment reserved just for you at least once every week or twice a week, promise yourself to make the commitment to showing up to that session, even when it feels like there is nothing “new” to talk about or even if it'string day. Sometimes the most important work happens in those sessions where people don’t come prepared with a topic to discuss or a crisis to resolve. Try to find new insight or hidden aspects for your personality within each session. This will keep on motivating you to stay consistent. Expect to be surprised at what comes up when you just let yourself start to explore with an experienced guide in a safe setting.