Email counselling at your own pace - in your favourite space

RECEIVE THE SUPPORT YOU NEED CONVENIENTLY & PRIVATELY RIGHT TO YOUR IN-BOX!

Many people feel embarrassed, unsure or anxious to attend counselling in person or online, or you just might not have the time to physically attend regular sessions!  In fact, there are many reasons people prefer email counselling over traditional counselling - see next section.

Sometimes it can seem daunting reaching out and sharing personal details with a complete stranger.  Email counselling is popular because it gives people a sense of independence, freedom and safety.  It is very in keeping with the name of my business - Bee Yourself Counselling.  You can chill out, relax and Bee Yourself while you express yourself at your own pace - in your favourite space!  

Clients who use email counselling often feel less inhibited and are able to share more freely than they would when having counselling in-person.  This is known as the Disinhibition Effect.  (Dr John Suler)

Once a week you write an email to me, and I respond with an email.  These emails can be up to 800 words each so you have plenty of space to express your issues, thoughts and feelings.  I also have plenty of space to thoughtfully respond.  I will respond to you within two days of receiving your email, simply because I like to reflect on what you have said and give you the attention you deserve.  We agree to send our emails by a certain time, e.g. before 5:00 pm on a certain day of the week.  This ensures you aren't sitting waiting for an email from me and vice versa.

An in-person 50 minute counselling session with me is normally $110 and I take just as much time reading and responding to your email as I would for an in-person session.  Actually, I often take more time doing this.  My response takes times to think about, formulate, and I may need to seek out relevant homework, write follow-up questions, send resources, exercises et cetera.

My email counselling rate per week, for your email and my response is $80.  You don't have to pay up-front.  I send an invoice at the end of each week.  If you would like counselling for several weeks, or more, once your payment is received at the end of each week, we continue from there.

What do I write about?

Once you have let me know you would like email counselling and returned your Client Consent Form - which I will email you, I will send you a guide suggesting what you can write in your first email.  

You don't have to follow the guide if you don't want to.  This is about you.  It's your time, your opportunity to express yourself however you choose.  Many clients find typing their thoughts and feelings, in their own time and space, extremely cathartic as it is similar to journaling which is widely used in counselling.  

REASONS PEOPLE PREFER EMAIL COUNSELLING: 

• prefer to have counselling where they feel most comfortable:  in their PJs, with their pets, in the garden, at the beach, in their lounge room - the choice is yours!
• prefer a reasonably priced option
• are hearing impaired
• are visually impaired and prefer OCR/speech-to-text devices
• can't commit to in-person or online counselling
• have an illness or disability that prevents them leaving home
• prefer not to drive and find parking 
• have parental or caring responsibilities
• work long hours
• want to express their thoughts and feelings on their own terms 
• feel uncomfortable making an initial appointment
• feel uncomfortable asking for help
• undertake shift-work
• travel regularly
• are on holidays
• find it difficult to think and respond during a traditional 50-minute counselling session
• want to discuss sensitive topics and find this challenging to do in-person 
• don't like traditional counselling
• have had negative experience/s with psychologists or counsellors in the past
• are private 
• like to have a record of what they have discussed
• like to have a record of their counsellor's correspondence

It's so easy to create a free encrypted email account for peace of mind - https://proton.me/mail/pricing

Confidentiality when using email counselling:  

Your information is safe and secure with me because I use an encrypted email account.  Many clients like to have a totally separate account for counselling anyway so creating an encrypted email account can serve a dual purpose.

Confidentiality is an incredibly important aspect of any form of counselling.  It's so easy to sign up for an encrypted email account for peace of mind - https://proton.me/mail/pricing  

If you don't use an encrypted email account I highly recommend having a strong password and ensuring you are the only one who can access your email account.

Simply use the Contact Form to let me know you are interested.  I will email you a Client Consent Form and once you have returned that via email to: beeyourselfcounselling@protonmail.com we can start!  I am ethically obliged to have the Client Consent Form completed before undertaking counselling.  This also ensures you are receiving a professional counselling service.

My email counselling rate per week, for your email and my response is $80.  You don't have to pay up-front.  I send an invoice at the completion of each cycle (an email from you, a response from me).  If you would like ongoing counselling we simply continue with this convenient arrangement.  

And if you have any questions in the meantime send me a message via the "Contact" page.

I look forward to hearing from you when you are ready.