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From: Barbara Dahm
Date: 21 Oct 2010
Time: 04:09:02 -0500
Remote Name: 85.250.132.55
Building a good relationship takes time either online or in clinic. I think time is the issue. People online don't see themselves going to therapy for a year or even 6 months. They want to do as few sessions as possible for financial reasons. That means we have to pack as much as we can into the hour. The sessions tend to be concentrated with little unrelated chit-chat. When we get into conversation there I get to know more about the particulars of their life, but online clients seem to want to do that part of the practice on their own with their family and friends. This may be a con as far as my building a relationship, but it may just be a pro, because there is a lot of self initiative to use what they learn in their life. Anyway, even in clinic, I often don't know much about the outside lives of my clients, but I sure do know what their sense of self, personality, thoughts, reactions, and feelings are. In short, I do everything online, including occasional guided meditation, that I would do in the clinic. If you look at what Ariel Oct 5 posted, you will see the opinion of some one who did both who felt there wasn't a difference. However, it would be interesting to see what some one who started out online and then did therapy in the clinic would say.