Online Therapy Ireland

Our Clinical Experience of Online Therapy

In our experience, the success of online therapy often depends less on the technology than on the conditions created around the session.

A private room, a regular appointment and some protected time matter. Therapy can become difficult when it is fitted between work calls, interrupted by other people or attended from somewhere in which the person cannot speak openly.

People also respond differently to the screen itself. Some begin speaking more readily from a familiar room. Others become conscious of their own image, the closeness of the therapist’s face or the silences that arise online. These experiences can become part of the therapy rather than something that must be ignored.

Travelling to a clinic also creates a transition into and out of a session. That transition is absent online. It can help to leave a few minutes before and after the appointment rather than returning immediately to work, family life or other responsibilities.

Where online and in-person appointments are both possible, we generally recommend meeting in person. A therapist may consider in-person sessions necessary when having a separate physical space away from home appears clinically important. Online therapy can nevertheless support sustained and meaningful therapeutic work for many people.

Our Approach to Online Counselling and Psychotherapy

We are owned and run by a practising psychotherapist.

We apply the same clinical standards to online and in-person therapy, including careful therapist selection and regular clinical supervision. We do not compromise these standards for convenience or scale.

Our work is primarily psychoanalytically informed and shaped around the individual rather than a standard programme. The therapist listens closely to your particular history, recurring concerns and what may be difficult to put into words.

Creating a Suitable Space for Online Therapy

Try to attend from somewhere private where you are unlikely to be overheard or interrupted. A stable internet connection, working camera and microphone are required for video sessions. Headphones can provide greater privacy and make it easier to hear clearly.

Place your device somewhere stable and turn off notifications where possible. Therapy should not take place while driving, working or moving between other activities.

If you share your home with other people, it can help to let them know that you need privacy for the duration of the appointment. Where privacy cannot be reliably maintained, discuss this with your therapist before beginning.

Your First Online Therapy Session

You do not need to prepare a complete account of recent events, or even know exactly where to begin.

You can speak about what has brought you to therapy, how the difficulty is affecting your life and what you hope might change.

Your therapist may ask about when the difficulty began, your present circumstances, previous experiences of therapy and any other support you are receiving. The session also gives you an opportunity to ask questions and consider whether the connection with the therapist feels suitable for you.

If you decide to continue, you and the therapist can discuss the frequency of appointments, the ongoing fee and whether online, or in-person is most appropriate.