It’s important to weigh the pros and cons of your particular context, but in general, yes!

The research suggests that online therapy can be just as effective as seeing someone in real life.

And in fact, it helps address two of the biggest reasons people give for NOT going to therapy at all – stigma (the fear of being negatively judged) and inconvenience.

The privacy and security of your personal information should be absolutely critical for anyone providing online therapy! In my practice, I use two pieces of online software: Owl Practice and Doxy.Me

Owl Practice is an online practice management solution that I use to manage all my clinical record-keeping, scheduling, booking, and invoicing. You can read more about their commitment to security here:

IS OWL PRACTICE SECURE?

Doxy.Me (“Doc, see me”) is a video conferencing platform that allows us to connect over secure, HD video. It’s simple to use, doesn’t require anything to download or install, and is compliant with all applicable Canadian privacy legislation.  You can read more about it here:

DOXY.ME

Nope. There are some situations where online therapy is not a good option, including, but not limited to:

• if someone is at risk of serious injury or physical harm
• if you find it difficult to ground yourself or de-escalate intense feelings or distress
• if you’re experiencing a crisis and require emergency/medical support
• if you’re experiencing alcohol or substance use concerns which could lead to serious bodily harm
• if you cannot guarantee a safe, confidential space to access online services

If you’re not sure about your particular situation, CONNECT WITH ME today!

At this time, James Barber Counselling Services provides all of their Online Therapy services to individuals and couples who are located in Ontario only.

If you’re outside of Ontario, we recommend finding a therapist who is trained and regulated to work within your specific location.

Here are some helpful tips to maximize your Online Therapy experience:

CREATE A SPACE

Take the time to create a space where you’ll feel truly comfortable and free of distractions.  Make sure no one else is around who might overhear us. Grab a warm drink and get cozy!  Remember: you’re investing in your mental health and wellness here, so make the most of your environment.

CHECK YOUR TECH

You know the deal here: when it comes to technology, your mileage may vary.  Unexpected tech hiccups can, and do, happen.

But the good news is that Doxy.me makes it incredibly easy to connect with me in HD video. No programs to install or apps to download; all you need is a decent webcam and a strong internet connection. If you can stream YouTube without buffering, you should be good to go!

If you’d like to test things out before committing to a full session, that’s great!  Send me a quick email at INFO@JAMESBARBER.CA and we’ll book a free 15-min consult session using the platform so you can get a feel for it.

GO FULL-SCREEN

I don’t know about you, but when I’m online, the temptation to multitask is pretty strong.  Jumping between open tabs, checking email and social media…it can be pretty easy to get distracted online!

During our session, let’s make a commitment to try and focus solely on our conversation so that you get the absolute most that you can from it.  Full-screen video can go a long way to helping here.

Some other pro tips:

• wear headphones for increased privacy

• activate your cell phone’s Do-Not-Disturb (or Airplane) mode to block notifications