Video Therapy

How does video call counselling at Ashwood Therapy work?

Will I be able to access video therapy with my smartphone?

Read on for the answers to common queries you might have about counselling by video call

Counselling for the digital age

Video therapy is a popular way of accessing counselling in the 21st century.  With Internet connections in many homes and smartphones in many back pockets, we are ‘always connected’ and frequently online.  Video therapy is appealing for its convenience, flexibility and cost-effectiveness.  No longer do you have to travel to see your therapist – they can be engaged with each week from wherever you happen to be.  Visit Why Online Counselling? for more reasons to choose online counselling over traditional in-person therapy.

Vsee Messenger

At Ashwood Therapy | Online Counselling, Rob uses the secure VSee Messenger app to connect with clients from around the world.  VSee boasts space agency NASA (the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration) among those organisations using its service, with secure video calls even being made from the International Space Station.  VSee Messenger is widely regarded as one of the most secure telehealth applications available, and this makes it well-suited to being used for online therapy.  The app is available for Windows and Mac PCs, along with iPhones, iPads and Android devices.  A full ‘how to connect’ guide is available to all Ashwood Therapy clients to ensure that getting connected with the software is easy and straight-forward.

Aside from robust security which ensures our video call is private, a key feature of VSee Messenger is its ability to operate over a low bandwidth connection.  Put simply, if your Internet connection is poor, or if you find yourself trying to connect in an area with a low mobile / cell signal, VSee Messenger is usable where other platforms would struggle.  Video calls can be made using only a ‘3G’ data connection.  Sometimes clients are delayed in getting home for their video therapy session, yet this is not a problem as with VSee they can choose to conduct the session from an out-of-the-way office at work via their smartphone.

What happens in a VSee Messenger video therapy session?

Using the VSee Messenger app, you will be able to see and hear Rob, and he will be able to see and hear you via a live video link.  At the agreed session start time, Rob will initiate the video therapy session by ‘calling’ you on VSee Messenger.  This will cause an ‘incoming call’ message / pop-up on your computer / mobile device.  When you select ‘accept’ your video feed will be transmitted securely over the Internet to Rob’s computer, and the session can begin.  Rob advises that wearing headphones can be helpful, though this is not essential.  Most smartphones, laptops and tablet computers come with a webcam and microphone built-in, whereas if you are using a desktop Windows / Mac PC you have may have to add a separate webcam / microphone to your system.  (Headsets specifically designed for video calling feature a microphone as standard).

Many counsellors advertise their sessions as lasting for 50 minutes.  Why does Ashwood Therapy offer 60-minute sessions?

Many therapists offer counselling sessions which last for 50 minutes.  This approach is known as ‘working to the therapeutic hour', and leaves 10 minutes between one client and the next in which the therapist can prepare for the following session.  As you may appreciate, there is a certain amount of 'getting into' a therapy session, and also an element of 'winding down' at the end of the session.  This period of gearing up as the session begins is of course a natural one, and as your therapist Rob has a responsibility to ensure that you are in a place at the end of the meeting to feel comfortable in logging off from the session, as you may have shared some difficult or challenging information.  By extending the session time from 50 to 60 minutes, this allows for more therapeutic time at 'relational depth', or - to use plainer language - a larger middle part of the session in which to work on what you have brought to that session to discuss.  Video call therapy sessions at Ashwood Therapy last for a full 60 minutes, and you will be able to speak privately to Rob for the whole of that time.  The online session booking system Rob uses ensures that there is always ample time between the clients he sees so that he can offer his full focus to the session at hand.

How much does video therapy with Ashwood Therapy cost?

Can I pay my fees securely?

I feel I would like to know more about video therapy.  What’s the next step?

Cost and payment

Video therapy sessions are currently charged at £50 (GBP) for a full hour (60 minutes), and a 10% discount is available when a block of six sessions are purchased at one time.  Payment is made when you book your session slot though the Ashwood Therapy online booking facility.  Your payment is processed using the secure payment processor Stripe, this system allows you to pay for your therapy using a U.K. or international credit or debit bank card.  The 10% discount available on bookings of six sessions means that six video therapy sessions are currently charged at £270 (GBP).

The next step

A free, no obligation initial consultation can be booked so you can speak to Rob in person about your current situation.  This 20-minute video call consultation takes place using VSee Messenger, so is an opportunity for you to experience connecting via video link at first-hand.  You may like to talk over briefly what has led you to seek out counselling support in this initial consultation.  Ashwood Therapy can also be contacted via the website secure contact form.  Rob will be happy to respond to any questions you may have as you decide whether accessing video therapy with Ashwood Therapy is right for you.  If, having made contact with Rob you would like to take things further, he will explain the induction process and how to apply for a full course of video therapy.