The Awareness Centre (TAC) is ensuring more people have access to therapy and mental health support during the coronavirus pandemic by making more counselling sessions available by telephone and online video.
It may come as a relief to know that you can still access the same standard of therapeutic support remotely from home. If you’re following advice to self-isolate and/or socially distance, this may bring up feelings that you want to talk through with a professional. There’s a lot of anxiety, panic and stress around too – with so many unknowns caused by the spread of the COVID-19 virus – and it may help to work through your concerns with a counsellor or psychotherapist.
Online & Telephone Counselling
Opting for online or telephone counselling can be more convenient for you, and it provides the same level of expertise and confidentiality as if you were seeing the therapist face to face. A University of Zurich study found that virtual therapy was just as effective in treating common mental health conditions, such as depression, as working face-to-face with a counsellor. And a study published in the Journal of Counselling Psychology revealed that telephone counselling can be more focused – and research participants also rated the counselling relationship and ‘level of interpersonal influence’ as similar to face-to-face counselling.
How it works
To access our remote counselling services, you’ll just need a safe space where you won’t be overheard or disturbed for the 50 minutes of the session. If you’re opting for online video counselling then you’ll also need a camera and microphone on your laptop, phone or tablet – and be able to download Zoom. We use Zoom as our online platform as it is encrypted for total confidentiality. You can agree a time with your therapist to speak, and then dial in at the appointed time. Our Front of House team can talk you through all of this if you decide to go for online video counselling.
Appointments available seven days a week
Do reach out for support rather than hold on to all your worries. Call 020 8673 4545 to speak to one of our friendly Front of House team who can answer your questions and help find you the right therapist for you. Or email [email protected] to book your phone or online counselling session. We offer sessions seven days a week, with low-cost options available too.
