| Telephone counseling | |
| Synonyms: | telephone-based therapy, telephone-delivered therapy, telephone therapy, telephone psychotherapy, telephone-administered psychotherapy |
Telephone counseling (also known as telephone therapy, telephone-based or telephone-delivered psychotherapy) refers to any type of psychological therapy performed over the telephone. Similarly to face-to-face therapy, telephone counseling can take the form of individual, couple or group psychotherapy. Along with online counseling, it is a type of telepsychology service.
Researchers have begun observing a growing trend in which licensed psychotherapists and psychologists are now seeing at least some of their clients via the telephone.[1] A body of research exists comparing the efficacy of telephone counseling to in-person counseling and to no treatment. A recent study found that more than half of clients (58%) who had experienced both in-person and phone counseling preferred phone counseling.[2] A 2002 study found that phone counseling clients rate their counseling relationship similarly to in-person clients.[3] Phone counseling has been established as an effective treatment for diagnoses ranging from depression[4] to agoraphobia.[5]
Unlike other forms of counseling, telephone counseling is potentially free of certain constraining factors that affect traditional therapy, including geography, time, duration, and cost, making this form of counseling more accessible for a number of people who would be unable to attend traditional psychotherapy. It also provides a degree of anonymity that is comforting to some callers, reducing the intimidation that some people may feel at the prospect of seeking treatment with a traditional in-person therapist and encouraging disclosure. Also research shows telephone counseling to have better results among patients with depression.[6]
Being physically present with your counselor may help you feel more connected with him or her; the telephone may contribute to "distance" in the therapeutic relationship. Some people feel safer letting themselves become emotional in the physical presence of another person.
Because the client often calls from a location that is part of their day-to-day life, calls often center around, or are interrupted by, situational pressures that the person is currently immersed in. This can have both positive and negative effects on the counseling provided; by allowing the counselor some insight into the person's situation, the counselor can be more objective. Conversely, the disruptions and pressures of situational factors may make it difficult for the client to adopt a reflective state or maintain full focus on the counseling session.
Phone counseling is not appropriate for people who are homicidal, suicidal, self injuring, or requiring more care than one session per week.