Online and remote counselling tools

There is no doubt that counselling in person, face-to-face can be very powerful. However there are times when this is not possible; certainly the Corona Virus situation has provided a huge focus on this. Indeed it has opened many counsellors framework and highlighted some real positive about different form of counselling. This blog was developed from a need to expand ways of sharing thoughts, feeling, emotions, actions and unpacking the effects of domestic violence. It has also brought back into focus the need to better appreciate the challenges of travelling to a centre. These challenges may include distance, finances, transport or even just the thought of leaving your house, which may have become your safe place.

This page will include links to programs and ideas to help facilitate communication and sharing for remote counselling.

Communication tools:

Skype (not Skype for business). This is my preferred video conferencing software as I find it the easiest to use, has the best video and sound. I know that its encryption is sound as it has been approved for use by Psychiatrists in Australia for some years. Skype is free to use if connecting Skype to Skype. Skype charges if you connect from Skype to a standard or mobile telephone. You need to download and install the software and then register with either an email address or username. Click here to go straight to the download page.

Zoom. Zoom is used by most education institutes and goes reasonably well. Certainly anyone study in school or at university in Australia would have become familiar with it during the Corona Virus lockdown and therefore already have it installed and running on their tablet or computer. Click here to connect to the Zoom web page.

Microsoft Teams. Teams comes with the Office 365 package is is already used by many businesses and again, you may already be connected. Click here to connect to the Microsoft Teams web page.

Games and play websites:

Game play is an important part of effective counselling. used well, as a means of connection, increase chemicals in your body such as Dopamine and Serotonin and regulate other chemicals such as Adrenaline and Cortisol. Some games, such as chess are superb for emotional regulation. During any strategy game, the questions around each move or action are "Why did you do that, what was your intent?", "What was your belief that made the move seem like a good one?" and finally, "What was the outcome of the move(s)?". These questions can be applied to so much in life and developing as a habit can be quite empowering.

chess.com . This is a fairly straightforward website that allows you to play chess across the Internet. It has a chat feature so that can be used instead of a running a separate video or voice conferencing tool.

Snakes and Ladders at crazygames.com. To be honest with you, I am still working on how to make this one work well. However, a client has asked to give it a go so here it is for now.

Online UNO at Unofreak.com . I've lost the link to this, so if you have one, please let me know via the comment box below.

Battleship at battleship-game.org.

BuddyBoardGames website:

BuddyBoardGames.com

Online Chess:

Chess.com

Online Sandtray and Sandplay:

Online Sandtray by Dr Karen Fried.

Simply Sandplay

Virtual Sandtray

Printable worksheets:

I am unique! You are unique! Track ten different things that make you unique and different from everyone else. 

My brain works too hard! A worksheet to write down the things you think about the most. 

My years, in tree rings. Add a memory one ring at a time. 

The Emotions Tree is an image to help an individual identify how he/she is feeling about a situation. Once someone can connect with the feeling of a person on the emotions tree, we can work together to find words that describe the feeling. 

Tips:

• When setting up any form of video conferencing software, if security is a concern, feel free to pick a username that is completely not connected to your name. 
• Prior to starting any remote counselling, take a moment to ensure your privacy. if there are any issues that may be brought up that you do not want to share, be sure to pick a quiet time and place where you lower the chances of being interrupted.
• If using video conferencing software and the vision is poor, remember that you can turn off the vision and stick to sound only. This frees up the band width and the sound is usually AOK after that.
• If all else fails, we can always fall back to the telephone.
• Using a good quality set of earbuds and microphone or headset really helps keep outside sounds down, improves your privacy and improves the pickup of you own voice as well.
• Remote counselling sessions often leave you with some follow-up items. It is always YOUR choice as to whether you do them or not. Life is busy and messy.
• Remember that remote counselling is intellectually harder on counsellors, by quite a bit actually. So you may find that sessions are much less likely to be kept to time.

Clips and websites:

• In person v remote discussion on YouTube by Marty Nemko.
• Online therapy and Zoom on YouTube by Dr Abigail Pamich.