Working online is slightly different to working face to face. Because online we haven't got the little in-person clues that we all pick up on when we meet with another person face to face, it really is very helpful and in most cases essential to have clarity about certain things. Online counsellors will make explicit to you any information which will help you feel secure and safe within your work together. Below I have included some of mine......
Guidelines for emergency contact
Online counselling cannot provide an emergency service. Emergencies or strong suicidal feelings need urgent attention The following are useful contacts : http://unsuicide.wikispaces.com/Online+Suicide+Help#.WoBCcnCnyaM
https://www.thecalmzone.net
www.samaritans.org
www.befrienders.org
https://www.papyrus-uk.org/help-advice/about-hopelineuk
or please contact your local emergency services.
I am not able to provide online counselling to any person who is under the age of 18
How online counselling can take place
Video
For video counselling (also known as webcam) the most secure platform is VSee which is medical grade, encrypted, HIPAA compliant, and offers a good reception. Other platforms we can use are FaceTime (also encrypted, and with some exceptions HIPAA compliant), and Skype (encrypted). VSee is recommended for security reassurance. In order to use this type of online counselling, your computer must have a webcam and microphone so we can see and hear each other, or you would download the appropriate app to your phone or tablet. We will agree a mutually convenient appointment time to talk. This is usually on a weekly basis.
Voice
For voice counselling we can use either my own dedicated phone line which will incur no call costs to you, or we can use audio on Skype, FaceTime, or VSee. If you prefer audio on Skype or VSee your computer must have a microphone so we will be able to hear each other, or you would need to download the appropriate app to your phone. We will agree a mutually convenient appointment time to talk. This is usually on a weekly basis.
Email
Email counselling is carried out by my replying therapeutically to your emails. A pre-arranged time will be your appointment time and that is normally when my email is scheduled to arrive with you. The most secureemail platform is Protonmail, which is a free app or computer download which enables end to end email encryption….you will also use Protonmail which is extremely easy to setup.
Instant message/Webchat
Instant message counselling (also known as IM or Webchat) is carried out at a pre-arranged time using aninstant messenger application. The most secure is VSee as it is a medical grade encrypted and HIPAAcompliant platform. Apples iMessage is encrypted also and, with some exceptions, is HIPAA compliant. Skype is less secure for written data. Instant Messaging will allow you to receive an instant real time response. We will agree a mutually convenient appointment time to ‘webchat’. This is usually on a weekly basis.
Things you need to know
There are many reasons people come to counselling…feeling overwhelmed, suffering loss or unexpected change, work pressure, difficult relationships at home or at work, worries about health. Some suffer depression, anxiety, low self esteem, or a traumatic incident, and feel unable to cope with the effects. Unfortunately not all problems can be resolved through online counselling and I will advise you if I consider face-to-face counselling or some other form of support may be more appropriate to your personal needs and presenting issues. I will also help you as much as is possible to find the most suitable alternative resources. Online counselling is not for everyone but can be very useful to those who have busy lives, or have mobility restrictions, or feel they would prefer contact from the comfort of their own space, or without face to face contact. My experience is that distance does not take away from the effectiveness of therapeutic contact, in fact it can enhance it as the focus is without distraction.
You will need to have your chosen platform installed prior to the first appointment and add me as a contact.
Please email me prior to your first appointment, and let me know your choice of online platform and the contact details. My secure email is pmcounselling25@protonmail.com
Specific issues related to counselling using the written word
There may be occasions where I ask questions about what you have written to me. This may be to seek a clearer view of your difficulty or to clarify a misunderstanding in our communication. We can’t see or hear each other, so it’s important we tell each other how we feel and what is going on for us along the way. Also you’ll perhaps be aware already that in email exchanges tone and intent are easily misunderstood….so it’s important we agree to give each other the benefit of the doubt and check things out at the time if this happens.
What happens if I have computer/connection problems which prevent me keeping the appointment?
Where either of us experiences a technological breakdown, which prevents us meeting online or exchanging emails, we would discuss, via the alternative contact you use, how to re-arrange the scheduled appointment. If this is not possible, you will receive a refund for the appointment.
Security
Confidentiality is key to the success of therapy. Practitioners guard it closely and with vigour. The content of our sessions will not be communicated to a third party, except for the purposes of mandatory clinical supervision. As a member of BACP, it is a requirement that I have regular supervision. This is to support me in my work with you and ensure that I work ethically and safely. Counsellors/psychotherapists do not reveal names of their clients in clinical supervision. My supervisor is also bound by the confidentiality requirements of their professional body.
During the course of our contact I will hold your contact information which will be deleted when our contact ends. I am required for good practice to keep very brief records. All personal information about you, clinical notes, and instant messaging transcripts will be stored securely using encryption and passwords. Anything stored offline will be in a locked filing cabinet. All emails with personal information will be deleted as soon as the data has been protected within my secure system. After 7 years, all electronic and paper copies will be destroyed. I will not share the content of our sessions with a third party.
Exceptions to the confidentiality rule apply where there is risk of harm to yourself or risk of harm to others. If at all possible I would always discuss a potential breach of confidentiality with you in advance.
• With regard to online counselling via email, text/message, and webcam, the police and other authorities can ask for access to an individual’s email account or synchronous messaging account where there is suspicion of illegal or terrorist activities. They can also ask counsellors for access to stored records. Counsellors are not able to guarantee confidentiality in these circumstances. Additionally all counsellors are legally bound to make disclosure to authorities if a client reveals that they are intending to cause risk of harm to others.
• If at any point during the counselling you were in need of emergency, medical, or additional support, I may ask for your consent to contact your GP. I may also recommend alternative avenues of support to online counselling.
Fees and Payment
Counselling
All online counselling must be paid for in advance via PayPal or by direct bank transfer. The link to make payment by PayPal can also be found on the Fees page of my website www.patriciamorriscounselling.weebly.com . Alternatively, I will send BACS details at your request.
Please note that if you have not made payment 24 hours before a session, and have not contacted me, the session will be cancelled.
Each online counselling session is 50 minutes.
Supervision
Online supervision - Individual - £45 per hour (£65 for 1.5 hours). Payment can be made personally or via invoice to your employer.
Cancellation
If you need to cancel an appointment :
There is a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you have made payment for a session but are unable to meet at the appointed time due to unexpected or other personal commitments, please let me know as soon as possible.
The full charge will apply for unattended or cancelled sessions with less than 24-hour notice.
For cancellations with over 24 hours notice the fee will be refunded without delay.
If we have experienced a technological breakdown which prevents us meeting online or exchanging emails, we would use the pre-arranged alternative means to continue our session where possible. If that isn’t possible we would re-arrange the scheduled appointment. If that option isn’t open to us, a refund would be made.
Online platforms
VSee (https://vsee.com/security/) is a secure application that is fully encrypted to a high standard and is HIPAA compliant, which is an additional protection that is required by law in the US (but not in the UK). This means that it is very difficult for a third party to hack into the communication and all stored data remains fully encrypted.
FaceTime (https://www.apple.com/uk/privacy/approach-to-privacy/) We use end-to-end encryption to protect your iMessage and FaceTime conversations across all your devices. With watchOS and iOS, your messages are encrypted on your device so that they can't be accessed without your passcode. ... And we never store the content of FaceTime calls on any servers.
Skype (https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA31/does-skype-use-encryption) is a secure application that uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Written data is stored on Microsoft servers for a short period however (even if deleted off users’ machines) and this could potentially cause a small risk. This is why Skype is not as secure for text based online counselling.
ProtonMail (https://protonmail.com/security-details)is a secure encrypted email platform. ProtonMail's zero access architecture means that your data is encrypted in a way that makes it inaccessible to even Protonmail. Data is encrypted on the user side using an encryption key that they do not have access to. This means they don't have the technical ability to decrypt our messages, and as a result, they are unable to hand our data over to third parties. “With ProtonMail, privacy isn't just a promise, it is mathematically ensured. For this reason, we are also unable to do data recovery. If you forget your password, we cannot recover your data”.
There can never be a 100% guarantee that online counselling is safe, but with awareness, attention, and diligence, the risk that a third party can access the communication or its records, is minimal.
Maintaining the privacy of your online exchange
Please ensure that you secure your computer and emails against unauthorised viewing by third parties. This may include adopting the use of password protection for all personal email accounts and documents etc. It is recommended that you do not engage in online counselling using a public computer where the content of exchanges could be viewed by others in close proximity.
Social Media Policy
Boundaries between Counsellors/Psychotherapists and their clients are clear and absolute. You and I will agree ….
• it is not appropriate to make contact requests via Social Media.
• we will not talk about or discuss clinical work on any forum/social media platform. It is not permissible to publicise the content of our exchanges or share them with a third party using social media or other personal or public means.
• neither of us will search the Internet for background information. There is one exception for counsellors/psychotherapists and it concerns their clients safety and the safety of others….if there were specific threats to the client or that the client has made about harming another person.
• we will contain our contact to our online sessions times. Normally no contact will be made between sessions but on occasion we may have to re-schedule appointment times, or to communicate briefly about technical issues.
I am not able to befriend current or past clients, and this extends to social media. I will not be able to respond to any comments if you follow my professional Facebook page. Please don’t be offended by this. This is to protect and respect the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship. You are though welcome to follow my professional Facebook page and to make use of the regularly updated information on it, and also the information on my website.
Moving forward .....
If you decide you'd like to go ahead with online counselling or supervision please contact me.
Due to the changes in privacy laws under GDPR, you will receive my Privacy Statement and Personal Information form which you will be required to sign to give me consent regarding your contact details and any information I may hold as we move forward.
If you are enquiring about counselling I will also send you an assessment form so we can be sure I am the right counsellor for you before you incur any costs.
Guidelines for emergency contact
Online counselling cannot provide an emergency service. Emergencies or strong suicidal feelings need urgent attention The following are useful contacts : http://unsuicide.wikispaces.com/Online+Suicide+Help#.WoBCcnCnyaM
https://www.thecalmzone.net
www.samaritans.org
www.befrienders.org
https://www.papyrus-uk.org/help-advice/about-hopelineuk
or please contact your local emergency services.
I am not able to provide online counselling to any person who is under the age of 18
How online counselling can take place
Video
For video counselling (also known as webcam) the most secure platform is VSee which is medical grade, encrypted, HIPAA compliant, and offers a good reception. Other platforms we can use are FaceTime (also encrypted, and with some exceptions HIPAA compliant), and Skype (encrypted). VSee is recommended for security reassurance. In order to use this type of online counselling, your computer must have a webcam and microphone so we can see and hear each other, or you would download the appropriate app to your phone or tablet. We will agree a mutually convenient appointment time to talk. This is usually on a weekly basis.
Voice
For voice counselling we can use either my own dedicated phone line which will incur no call costs to you, or we can use audio on Skype, FaceTime, or VSee. If you prefer audio on Skype or VSee your computer must have a microphone so we will be able to hear each other, or you would need to download the appropriate app to your phone. We will agree a mutually convenient appointment time to talk. This is usually on a weekly basis.
Email counselling is carried out by my replying therapeutically to your emails. A pre-arranged time will be your appointment time and that is normally when my email is scheduled to arrive with you. The most secureemail platform is Protonmail, which is a free app or computer download which enables end to end email encryption….you will also use Protonmail which is extremely easy to setup.
Instant message/Webchat
Instant message counselling (also known as IM or Webchat) is carried out at a pre-arranged time using aninstant messenger application. The most secure is VSee as it is a medical grade encrypted and HIPAAcompliant platform. Apples iMessage is encrypted also and, with some exceptions, is HIPAA compliant. Skype is less secure for written data. Instant Messaging will allow you to receive an instant real time response. We will agree a mutually convenient appointment time to ‘webchat’. This is usually on a weekly basis.
Things you need to know
There are many reasons people come to counselling…feeling overwhelmed, suffering loss or unexpected change, work pressure, difficult relationships at home or at work, worries about health. Some suffer depression, anxiety, low self esteem, or a traumatic incident, and feel unable to cope with the effects. Unfortunately not all problems can be resolved through online counselling and I will advise you if I consider face-to-face counselling or some other form of support may be more appropriate to your personal needs and presenting issues. I will also help you as much as is possible to find the most suitable alternative resources. Online counselling is not for everyone but can be very useful to those who have busy lives, or have mobility restrictions, or feel they would prefer contact from the comfort of their own space, or without face to face contact. My experience is that distance does not take away from the effectiveness of therapeutic contact, in fact it can enhance it as the focus is without distraction.
You will need to have your chosen platform installed prior to the first appointment and add me as a contact.
Please email me prior to your first appointment, and let me know your choice of online platform and the contact details. My secure email is pmcounselling25@protonmail.com
Specific issues related to counselling using the written word
There may be occasions where I ask questions about what you have written to me. This may be to seek a clearer view of your difficulty or to clarify a misunderstanding in our communication. We can’t see or hear each other, so it’s important we tell each other how we feel and what is going on for us along the way. Also you’ll perhaps be aware already that in email exchanges tone and intent are easily misunderstood….so it’s important we agree to give each other the benefit of the doubt and check things out at the time if this happens.
What happens if I have computer/connection problems which prevent me keeping the appointment?
Where either of us experiences a technological breakdown, which prevents us meeting online or exchanging emails, we would discuss, via the alternative contact you use, how to re-arrange the scheduled appointment. If this is not possible, you will receive a refund for the appointment.
Security
Confidentiality is key to the success of therapy. Practitioners guard it closely and with vigour. The content of our sessions will not be communicated to a third party, except for the purposes of mandatory clinical supervision. As a member of BACP, it is a requirement that I have regular supervision. This is to support me in my work with you and ensure that I work ethically and safely. Counsellors/psychotherapists do not reveal names of their clients in clinical supervision. My supervisor is also bound by the confidentiality requirements of their professional body.
During the course of our contact I will hold your contact information which will be deleted when our contact ends. I am required for good practice to keep very brief records. All personal information about you, clinical notes, and instant messaging transcripts will be stored securely using encryption and passwords. Anything stored offline will be in a locked filing cabinet. All emails with personal information will be deleted as soon as the data has been protected within my secure system. After 7 years, all electronic and paper copies will be destroyed. I will not share the content of our sessions with a third party.
Exceptions to the confidentiality rule apply where there is risk of harm to yourself or risk of harm to others. If at all possible I would always discuss a potential breach of confidentiality with you in advance.
• With regard to online counselling via email, text/message, and webcam, the police and other authorities can ask for access to an individual’s email account or synchronous messaging account where there is suspicion of illegal or terrorist activities. They can also ask counsellors for access to stored records. Counsellors are not able to guarantee confidentiality in these circumstances. Additionally all counsellors are legally bound to make disclosure to authorities if a client reveals that they are intending to cause risk of harm to others.
• If at any point during the counselling you were in need of emergency, medical, or additional support, I may ask for your consent to contact your GP. I may also recommend alternative avenues of support to online counselling.
Fees and Payment
Counselling
All online counselling must be paid for in advance via PayPal or by direct bank transfer. The link to make payment by PayPal can also be found on the Fees page of my website www.patriciamorriscounselling.weebly.com . Alternatively, I will send BACS details at your request.
Please note that if you have not made payment 24 hours before a session, and have not contacted me, the session will be cancelled.
Each online counselling session is 50 minutes.
- Instant Messaging - £52 - 45 per session
- Video Counselling - £52 - 45 per session.
- Voice Counselling - £52 - 45 per session.
- Email Counselling - £52 - 45 per email exchange.
Supervision
Online supervision - Individual - £45 per hour (£65 for 1.5 hours). Payment can be made personally or via invoice to your employer.
Cancellation
If you need to cancel an appointment :
There is a 24 hour cancellation policy. If you have made payment for a session but are unable to meet at the appointed time due to unexpected or other personal commitments, please let me know as soon as possible.
The full charge will apply for unattended or cancelled sessions with less than 24-hour notice.
For cancellations with over 24 hours notice the fee will be refunded without delay.
If we have experienced a technological breakdown which prevents us meeting online or exchanging emails, we would use the pre-arranged alternative means to continue our session where possible. If that isn’t possible we would re-arrange the scheduled appointment. If that option isn’t open to us, a refund would be made.
Online platforms
VSee (https://vsee.com/security/) is a secure application that is fully encrypted to a high standard and is HIPAA compliant, which is an additional protection that is required by law in the US (but not in the UK). This means that it is very difficult for a third party to hack into the communication and all stored data remains fully encrypted.
FaceTime (https://www.apple.com/uk/privacy/approach-to-privacy/) We use end-to-end encryption to protect your iMessage and FaceTime conversations across all your devices. With watchOS and iOS, your messages are encrypted on your device so that they can't be accessed without your passcode. ... And we never store the content of FaceTime calls on any servers.
Skype (https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA31/does-skype-use-encryption) is a secure application that uses Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Written data is stored on Microsoft servers for a short period however (even if deleted off users’ machines) and this could potentially cause a small risk. This is why Skype is not as secure for text based online counselling.
ProtonMail (https://protonmail.com/security-details)is a secure encrypted email platform. ProtonMail's zero access architecture means that your data is encrypted in a way that makes it inaccessible to even Protonmail. Data is encrypted on the user side using an encryption key that they do not have access to. This means they don't have the technical ability to decrypt our messages, and as a result, they are unable to hand our data over to third parties. “With ProtonMail, privacy isn't just a promise, it is mathematically ensured. For this reason, we are also unable to do data recovery. If you forget your password, we cannot recover your data”.
There can never be a 100% guarantee that online counselling is safe, but with awareness, attention, and diligence, the risk that a third party can access the communication or its records, is minimal.
Maintaining the privacy of your online exchange
Please ensure that you secure your computer and emails against unauthorised viewing by third parties. This may include adopting the use of password protection for all personal email accounts and documents etc. It is recommended that you do not engage in online counselling using a public computer where the content of exchanges could be viewed by others in close proximity.
Social Media Policy
Boundaries between Counsellors/Psychotherapists and their clients are clear and absolute. You and I will agree ….
• it is not appropriate to make contact requests via Social Media.
• we will not talk about or discuss clinical work on any forum/social media platform. It is not permissible to publicise the content of our exchanges or share them with a third party using social media or other personal or public means.
• neither of us will search the Internet for background information. There is one exception for counsellors/psychotherapists and it concerns their clients safety and the safety of others….if there were specific threats to the client or that the client has made about harming another person.
• we will contain our contact to our online sessions times. Normally no contact will be made between sessions but on occasion we may have to re-schedule appointment times, or to communicate briefly about technical issues.
I am not able to befriend current or past clients, and this extends to social media. I will not be able to respond to any comments if you follow my professional Facebook page. Please don’t be offended by this. This is to protect and respect the boundaries of the therapeutic relationship. You are though welcome to follow my professional Facebook page and to make use of the regularly updated information on it, and also the information on my website.
Moving forward .....
If you decide you'd like to go ahead with online counselling or supervision please contact me.
Due to the changes in privacy laws under GDPR, you will receive my Privacy Statement and Personal Information form which you will be required to sign to give me consent regarding your contact details and any information I may hold as we move forward.
If you are enquiring about counselling I will also send you an assessment form so we can be sure I am the right counsellor for you before you incur any costs.