Online Counselling in Ireland: Is It Right for You? Benefits, Limits and How to Prepare
Online counselling by video or telephone has moved from emergency measure to mainstream option. For people in rural counties, people with caring responsibilities or mobility difficulties, and people who simply find it easier to talk from their own space, it has opened access to accredited practitioners who were previously out of reach. It is not right for everyone or for every difficulty, and it is worth thinking through before you choose.
Benefits
Access to a much wider choice of practitioners, including specialists in trauma, addiction or couples work who may not practise nearby.
No travel, less time away from work or family, and easier scheduling.
Privacy: nobody sees you walk into a building, which matters in small communities.
Continuity when you move, travel or fall ill.
For some people, a little distance makes it easier to speak about difficult things.
Limits
You need a private space where you will not be overheard or interrupted, which is not available to everyone.
Connection problems can interrupt sessions at exactly the wrong moment.
Some people find it harder to feel connected on screen, and some kinds of work, including some trauma and body-based approaches, are better done in person.
If you are at high risk, a practitioner may need you to be seen locally, and will discuss this with you.
How to prepare
Agree the platform in advance and check that it protects privacy; ask the practitioner what they use and why.
Use headphones, close other applications and test your connection before the first session.
Choose a place where you can speak freely. A parked car, with the engine off, is a common solution where home is not private.
Agree what happens if the connection drops: usually the practitioner will telephone you.
Give yourself a few minutes after the session before returning to the household or work.
Choosing an online practitioner
The same rules apply as in person: check accreditation and verify it, ask about experience with your difficulty, and agree fees and cancellation terms. ICPHAA members offering video and telephone sessions are listed on the online counselling and psychotherapy page, and each can be checked on the verification page.
Frequently asked questions
Is online counselling as effective as in person?
For many common difficulties, including anxiety and low mood, research suggests comparable outcomes when the therapeutic relationship is good. For some people and some presentations, in-person work remains preferable; a good practitioner will discuss this with you.
Can I see a counsellor based in another county?
Yes. Many ICPHAA members work with clients across Ireland by video. Practitioners based outside Ireland may be subject to different standards, so check accreditation carefully.
Is telephone counselling the same as video?
Telephone sessions remove the visual element, which some people find freeing and others find distancing. Both are legitimate; try what suits you.
Finding an accredited practitioner
ICPHAA members who have published their directory listings can be browsed by county and by area of focus on the find a counsellor pages, including online counselling. Every listing links to the member's full profile and to the verification page, where you can confirm that their membership is current before you make contact.
This article is general information from ICPHAA, the Irish Counselling, Psychotherapy & Allied Healthcare Professionals Association. It is not a substitute for individual professional advice. If you are in crisis or at immediate risk, contact emergency services on 112 or 999. The Samaritans are available free, day and night, on 116 123, and you can text HELLO to 50808 for a free 24-hour text service.
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