When it comes to online services people tend to focus on the fact that it cuts out travel, and that’s it’s discrete - or that sitting down with someone tends to make for better communication than video conferencing.
However, working online can offer some special benefits. Here’s are three that I value.
#1 If you’ve been raped and your country will jail or punish you for it
You may have seen the cases in the news like that of Alicia Gali, the Australian woman who was raped by three men after they drugged her drink. When Gali told the police, they arrested and jailed her - because United Arab Emirates law states that rape victims are guilty of illicit sex, which is illegal.
The UAE isn’t the only country with that kind of law, so if you’re living in that situation, reaching out to someone overseas online can be a sensible idea.
#2 When you need little support boosts
Face-to-face sessions are an hour. With online therapy, you have flexibility. Some of my clients book 30 minute calls. These work well if there's an ongoing crisis or if you need top up boosts but not a whole session.
These can be set up in advance, or you fire off a quick email or WhatsApp and we set it up as soon as we both can, usually in 24 or 48 hours. Working online means flexibility.
When there's a massive cultural gap...#3 When you are out of your culture
Twenty years ago when I moved to Malaysia, I went to see a therapist to say, “I’ve just moved here from Europe, I just got married, I’ve just changed careers, and that’s all been okay but now my parents are splitting up because my dad has a mistress. Help me!” He said, “Your mum should accept your father having a second wife.”
Enough said, right? Complete mic drop. Therapy's no good if it misses the cultural plot twists in your story.
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| When there's a massive cultural gap... |
Am I the therapist for you? I am Scottish-Dutch, married to an American, lived and worked in Europe for 25 years and in South East Asia for the other 25 years, so I can think in West and East.
When family fireworks, expat whirlwinds, or those 'wait, is that normal here?' moments have you reeling (Malaysia to Middle East, I've got the miles), contact me. We'll sort it, with a side of proper perspective—and probably a giggle or two as well.
Message me today via email ellen.whyte@gmail.com or WhatsApp: +44 7514 408143 for your free 15-minute consultation.
