Working Online Together

Tim Mitchell

UKCP Registered Membership No. 2011183664

What is online therapy like?

Having therapy online is a different experience from being in the room with a therapist.  There may be several reasons why it is either necessary or preferable for you to want to work online.  Indeed even where you may generally want face-to-face work online working allows for flexibility when face-to-face sessions may not be possible.

To ensure that you get the most from our online sessions we need to consider the significant differences between online and face-to-face therapy. It will be important for us to discuss these, particularly if you haven’t had therapy before and want online sessions. 

As part of my UKCP accreditation I have taken specific training to deliver online therapy.  We have discussed working online and have agreed that it is a suitable way for us to work together.

While online working can be convenient or preferable there may be times when it is not suitable such as in a crisis situation.  We can consider alternatives together should such a situation arise. 

Where to be for online work?

I will meet with you from a confidential working space, where your privacy is protected. Usually I will be based in the same location each time we meet. If there is ever a change of location, I will let you know about this before our session.  Working online, you are responsible for arranging your own location and environment, and if you share your space with others, this can require some planning and negotiation. So that you can get the most from therapy, I ask that you join me for our sessions in a private, quiet location where you can speak without risk of being overheard or interrupted. Headphones can be helpful in securing your privacy. I also ask that you switch off phone notifications and mute any potential desktop interruptions. If joining me from a car, you should be alone, parked safely and with the handbreak secured. In order to work with me online you need to be based in the UK and any sessions from elsewhere should be occasional and only by prior agreement.

What happens if the connection fails?

To enable online working, we both need to have a good broadband connection. Occasionally however, during online work, wi-fi connection can be lost.  If we lose connection I will first try to reconnect via Zoom.  If we cannot reconnect I will contact you by telephone using the number we have agreed and if we cannot get back online, we cancontinue by telephone.

 How are online sessions delivered

Online sessions are delivered via Zoom.  https://www.zoom.com/en/trust/privacy/privacy-statement/ I take reasonable steps to protect the privacy and security of online sessions.  For example I will conduct sessions via a dedicated link  andusing password-protected Zoom meetings with a waiting room. I do not record therapy sessions or use automated transcription or AI features during sessions and these are disabled for both of us. 

As with any online communication technology there are some risks to confidentiality that cannot be completely eliminated.  If you have concerns about using Zoom, please discuss these with me before beginning online therapy.