There is an article about telephone counselling in Canada called Dialling Up Doctor (online at the National Post, by Rebecca Field Jager, that quotes me, Lucy MacDonald (Eastern Ontario, Canada) about how to make the most of counselling by phone. A well-written, balanced article on the pros, and cons, of phone counselling.
Here is the excerpt:
TALK THERAPY TIPS
Lucy MacDonald, a therapist in Eastern Ontario, offers a few suggestions for getting the most out of a telephone counselling session.
1. Choose a space at home or the office where you will not be interrupted. If possible, or necessary, let others know that you will be on the phone for the next hour and do not want to be disturbed.
2. Turn off call waiting and cellphones so there are no distractions or interruptions.
3. If you are a parent, wait until your children are in bed or at school before your scheduled phone session.
4. Have a "starting point" question or statement when approaching your first session. For example, "I am feeling angry most of the time and it is having a negative impact on my coworkers," or "My teenaged daughter has decided she is quitting school and we don't know what to do." 5. Have a pen and paper handy to make notes and write down any questions you might have.
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