Online counselling provides you with the opportunity to interact with a professional counsellor via email to share your concerns, pose questions and gain further insight into the problems you are addressing. It's like any other form of counselling, just through a different medium. 
 
Many people find it easier to express themselves in the comfort of anonymity. Some find that in writing down their thoughts and feelings, they get more clarity. Others like the convenience of not having to fix an appointment and also having a sense of control over when they want to have another session. One can also re-read and reflect on the responses sent by the counsellor as and when one feels the need. 
 
 

Here are some of the benefits of using online counselling services, along with some feedback from employees who have used this mode: 

 
Provides Understanding and support 

"Let me start by saying that my wife feels that nobody has ever articulated how she feels so well, as you have done here. She says she was almost choked when she read it for the first time." 

"THANK-U it's very heartening to see that u do not hate me as I myself do & what more I can ask for" 

"I feel stronger when I read your mails and eagerly wait for replies. It really does help me to be a more confident person." 

".....I don't know who you are... but when I find answers for my questions from you, I feel so happy to know that there is someone who can listen..." 

 
Convenience of timing and location 

"I write to you in moments when I am feeling most weak...it allows me to write whenever I feel low, at whatever time in the night or day...I don't think that I will have that luxury in a face to face or phone counseling." 

"This process is good as it reaches anybody, anywhere... Right now, I'm sitting in US and able to write to you about my issues..." 

"I didn't write to you all these days as I wanted to check if I am able to implement things that we discussed & ... keep you informed about the barriers that I am facing to implement the same." 

 
Sense of safety and anonymity 

"I'm actually not too comfortable talking about myself - which is why I am absolutely amazed as to what I have been writing in these mails..." 

"Above all, I feel a sense of safety - that I have not told my problem to anybody I personally know, but still I will get help." 

"I am sorry I didn't call because I thought I could not speak about it to a stranger. I can type it all out but not speak." 

"... I could not have told anyone all this, things which are personal to me and her. It's just that you don't know and you will never come across her, I could tell you all this. Not even my best friends know even a half of this story." 

"...being able to talk to someone about everything felt great.... not needing to hide any details that I might have in case of a friend or relative....." 

"I like not having anybody see my reaction to your mails...I cry every time I get a mail from you...I don't know why...maybe because that becomes my dedicated time to deal with everything that I find hard to deal with...to revisit every emotion I feel ..." 

 
Allows for Problem clarification 

"I really had to think to make clear myself about what you have asked. By writing you the things I am getting a better picture of my fears." 

"Well the best part I find is that you give words to our thoughts" 

"Felt quite good to just write down all this and then read thru my own thoughts from the perspective of a person who can see things a lot more clearly." 

"Thank you very much for your encouraging words. One of the main reasons I write to you often because you always show me an angle which I would have failed to see." 

"Every one of your mail was helpful. I feel online service is better than the in person session, because here we have to write the problem first. When you have to write to someone, you have to think through what's bothering. So the ‘what' part is identified. I may not know why it's bothering and how to resolve and you have been filling in that when you respond." 

 
Space and time to think, can re read the counsellor's inputs 

".. I have re read your previously written mails when I felt down....instead of bothering you again and again....they help a lot..." 

"I have made a list of key points from your many mails and reading them gives me a sense of peace." 

"I read your mail at least thrice...and it is quite convincing....you understand so many things so well...the things you told me are very true" 

"I repeat to myself several things that you have written about and it makes me feel better." 

"... I like the fact that I can put down my thoughts and get a prompt response. This gave a chance to understand different perspectives. I think using this platform gave me some place to vent out my feelings and a calming effect due to the counsellors guidance..." 

"I really had to think to make clear myself about what you have asked. By writing you the things I am getting a better picture of my fears." 

So, if there is something that you would like to discuss with a counsellor, feel free to write in on our e-counselling page. Even if you are not too sure what to write, just make a start and your counsellor will help you to express your thoughts more fully. 

If you would like to discuss this further or need some help or support in this or any other area, our counsellors would be happy to help.