Are you interested in teletherapy, but online counseling doesn’t seem like the right fit? Phone therapy may be the answer.
I started offering phone sessions as a backup to video sessions when the internet was down or other technical issues arose. After doing several phone sessions, I realized how positive an experience this format could be, both for myself and for my clients. I’ve since begun to offer phone therapy as a primary therapy format, and I’ve been pleased with the results.
Phone therapy offers a variety of benefits, as compared to video or in-person sessions.
Your session, your setting
The space in which therapy takes place can alter the experience for better or for worse. In the case of teletherapy, especially phone therapy, the setting can be completely of your choosing. Some clients like to talk to me on their morning walk, while others have a lunchtime session at the park or in their car. More than a few clients like to wear a headset so they can keep their hands busy, raking leaves or knitting or anything else that helps them think. I encourage my phone clients to hold their sessions wherever they feel most able to engage in therapy most effectively, and I like that my clients have the freedom to experiment with this and find their most ideal therapeutic setting.
Increased anonymity can help build confidence
Confidentiality and privacy are vital to the therapeutic process. We talk about difficult subjects in therapy, and for many clients, the assurance that their thoughts, feelings, and stories are completely private is the only thing that allows them to be brave enough to open up and begin the healing process. Phone therapy can help you find your courage – there are just some things that are easier to say out loud when no one is looking at you. The sense of security that comes from this anonymity can help you feel more confident in opening up about your experiences without fear of judgment. Phone therapy clients can also appreciate the extra layer of anonymity provided by the fact that they won’t be seen, so they won’t be recognized by their therapist in public.
Freedom to relax, let your guard down
Many people spend their lives feeling guarded and tense when interacting with other people, and social pressure is one of the most common stressors my clients report. This doesn’t necessarily change just because the person you’re talking to is your therapist. My phone therapy clients have told me that they appreciate the freedom to be faceless and invisible – they talk about the social pressure they feel to smile at the right times, or make eye contact appropriately, or carry their body in a certain way. All of these and other concerns vanish with phone therapy. You’re free to sit, talk, dress, and act in whatever way feels most natural, without being concerned about what I or anyone else will think. I’ve observed how this level of comfort can help people to relax more fully, allowing them to open up more deeply in sessions.
Accessibility
Like other forms of teletherapy, phone therapy has the ability to make counseling accessible to people who may not have easy access to more traditional options. Perhaps you have mobility restrictions, or chronic pain that makes it hard to travel and sit in an office. Maybe you lack reliable transportation, or live far away from your chosen therapist. For some of my clients, the ability to simply leave work or school and start therapy without a commute has been a game changer in terms of how often they are able to attend sessions, and at least a few of my phone therapy clients report that without phone therapy they would never have been able to attend at all. There are many factors that might make it difficult for you to access the therapy you need, and phone therapy can help with this.
Fewer technical glitches
One huge advantage phone therapy has over video counseling is the lack of required internet access. While the vast majority of my video sessions go smoothly, it’s normal that we experience a bit of lag, or have an occasional dropped connection. This can be extremely frustrating and can interrupt the flow of a session. In a few especially unfortunate cases, lack of good internet has made completing a session all but impossible, forcing us to reschedule. I’ve never really had these kinds of problems with phone sessions. Unless you happen to be driving through a signal dead zone (or forget to charge your phone!), the chances of our session being interrupted by technical difficulties is low.
Some things to consider before scheduling
Like all forms of teletherapy, phone therapy has limitations and risks, including:
Without your facial expressions and body language, I can only understand what you’re saying based on your words, tone of voice, and a few other subtle audio cues I’m trained to pick up on. While I’m confident in my ability to listen and understand my clients over the phone, miscommunications are more common than in other therapy formats and additional clarification may occasionally be needed
Doing therapy outside of a traditional office makes it more likely that you will have distractions or interruptions in your environment, and this isn’t something I can help with. The same is true about privacy, should you choose to do your session in a space where other people might overhear.
Crisis situations can be more uncertain with telehealth. Since I can’t be sure of your physical location or who is with you, I’m more likely to be cautious when it comes to things like suicidal intent and self-harm. It’s my ethical duty to keep you safe in these situations, which can sometimes mean reaching out to an emergency contact or a medical or legal authority. While I always strive to protect confidentiality in the therapeutic relationship, the distance involved in teletherapy increases risk and increases my ethical necessity to act with caution and care. If you are experiencing suicidal intent or self-harm, this is something we can discuss on a consultation call or in-session.