ONLINE CONSULTATION THERAPY GUIDE
I offer a free initial consultation and therapy online over the internet. You can use any internet or Wi Fi enabled device with a camera and microphone such as a mobile phone, tablet or a laptop or PC.
You will need to be in a location where you can be absolutely sure that you will not be disturbed or overheard during your consultation with me. This will usually be a room where you can sit comfortably at the right temperature with somewhere you can place your device you are using for your consultation, so I can see and hear you.
Online therapy sessions including hypnotherapy, have been shown to be just as effective as a traditional face-to-face consultation in a consulting room. You will have access to the same high-quality therapy that you would receive face to face in my consulting room. A review in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (Vol. 14, No. 4) stated that results “indicate that e-therapy seems to be at least equivalent to face-to-face therapy”. Consultations and therapy can therefore be carried out successfully over the internet, using the Zoom platform which should work on any internet enabled device with a camera and microphone.
With Zoom, just click your link in your meeting invitation email and follow the instructions to join your session. If you don’t have Zoom you can download it and open a free account at https://zoom.us/
In the first instance, I would suggest that the free initial online consultation that I offer may be advisable to book, as this will give us the opportunity to trial your device setup, and the connection process before commencing therapy.
You will need to email me to set up a free initial consultation or use the online booking system. Once we’ve agreed a time for your session, you’ll just need a reliable internet connection and a quiet comfortable place to relax. I’ll send you a Zoom meeting invitation email shortly before your appointment which will contain a unique Zoom meeting link for each session appointment. The Zoom meeting link is safe and secure and only you will have access to it.
Pre online consultation technical check list
- Make sure your device has a good and sufficient battery charge to last for at least 90 minutes. If possible, connect your device to the mains supply.
- If you are using rechargeable headphones make sure they have sufficient battery charge to last for at least 90 minutes. Ideally use corded headphones. The best corded headphones are a gaming headphone that incorporates a microphone.
- If using cordless earphones check that they have a good connection to your device. Ideally use corded headphones.
- Make sure your device is not likely to move or fall during your session.
- Check If your device is set to power down automatically after a period of ‘inactivity’, as specified in its power settings.
- Make sure you have a good internet connection and if using Wi Fi, that the reception is good.
- Turn off notifications on your device that you are using to avoid interruption during your consultation.
If in the unlikely event we do lose connection during your therapy session, don’t worry! It maybe that during your therapy session you will have your eyes closed and be in a state of deep focussed concentration. Should the connection be interrupted, you will eventually become aware that the connection has broken, and then ‘wake yourself up’ and open your eyes and start to identify and correct the cause of the problem. Please be reassured that it is not possible to come to any harm through the possible failure of the remote connection whilst you are in hypnosis during online therapy.
During your online consultation
Depending on what you are consulting me for, we may spend all the time in normal conversation consultation mode where you will have your eyes open and be alert and looking at the camera on your device and talking to me on your device such as your laptop, smartphone, or tablet. If I am incorporating hypnotherapy or meditation into our consultation, you may be sitting in a comfortable position with your eyes closed, and in what might, at times, feel like a lethargic and dream like state. Whilst in this state just relax and I will be your guide.
In any event the session will end in consultation mode where you will have your eyes open and be wide awake and alert and looking at the camera on your device. This may be the time where we might talk briefly about your progress during your consultation, and where we can then possibly book your appointment for your next consultation.