e-Therapy or e-Counseling - also known as on-line therapy or on-line counseling - has become a tool for mental health counselors in the last several years, allowing an individual to talk to a professional from the comfort of their own space - home, office, or even vehicle (hopefully while pulled over to the side of the road)- virtually any location worldwide where the internet or a telephone is available. 

It is excellent for those in rural areas, where traveling is time-consuming or difficult.  Unless these electronic services are down, bad weather is never a factor either.  For those caring for children, the infirm, or the elderly, or for those with a very busy schedule, e-Therapy is preferable to traditional face-to-face therapy in the counselor's professional office.

For those with social phobias, or for those who would like to retain a degree of anonymity, e-Therapy is ideal.  If you wish to maintain strict privacy, e-Therapy is a discrete alternative.  For those who feel embarrassed or shy discussing certain personal or intimate situations, e=Therapy offers a veil of privacy, and often encourages a client to open up more quickly.

It is very effective for many problems, such as stress, anxiety, family and relationship problems, grief and loss management, anger management, phobias, abuse, divorce, job loss, and most major life changes.  It is not, however, recommended for serious situations like suicidal or homicidal thoughts, psychotic delusions, and other problems needing immediate, critical, hands on intervention.  Nevertheless, I have been faced with such crises and have managed to find a resolution and have helped ease my client past their harmful thinking.

e-Therapy can be delivered in several forms:  by telephone, by email, by tradition mail (snail-mail); by internet messaging, internet audio chat, or by internet video chat, using such services as Yahoo Messenger, Skype, and others.  All you need is a computer with a fast internet connection (not dial-up);if you use an audio service, you will need a microphone and headphones, or with video, you will also need a simple camera that clips on to the top of your video monitor.
 

This is neither complicated nor expensive.  The camera that I use cost around $40 at Wal-Mart; it is simple to use and has a built-in noise-cancelling microphone that allows you to use your computer's speakers if you do not wish to use a headphone, which are also readily available, are inexpensive, and plug in to your computer.

The connections to Yahoo Messenger and Skype are free as well.

If you do not have free phone service I can call you at all numbers in the United States and Canada, and land-lines (not mobile, in the United Kingdom.

For more information read my article on E-therapy (click the link).

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