A Guide to Online Parental Guidance Counselling

Information about online counselling, allowing you to decide whether you want to consent to counselling using this medium and making the most of this convenient and accessible resource…..

Tips and FAQ’s

What are the Benefits and Limitations of Online Counselling? 
Online counselling is a convenient alternative to traditional face-to-face counselling and has been shown to be effective in helping with many difficulties. However online counselling has limitations. There is a lack of “personal” face-to-face interaction which can make counselling less of a relational experience. It is also not an appropriate medium if you are seriously depressed, have serious substance dependence, or you are experiencing intense suicidal or homicidal thoughts. Seeing a mental health professional face-to-face is recommended in these situations.

Scheduling an Appointment:
Start by scheduling an appointment with the Child Behaviour Centre. The appointments may be claimed from your medical aid and are charged according to medical aid tariff. All private clients will need to make payment upfront for scheduled appointments.

Billing and Cancellations: 
Services are billed by time and sessions are normally 50 minutes in duration. Please be aware that different medical aids have different policies with regard to online counselling. Please clarify this with them, to ensure payment. Please also note that the practice has a 24 hour (business day) cancellation policy. Kindly cancel all appointments with the practice timeously, to avoid being held liable for missed appointments. Late cancellations or failure to connect online at the allocated time, results in open unused slots, which cannot be filled at short notice. The cancellation policy will therefore be adhered to strictly at all times.

Setting Clear Goals:
Before beginning counselling, identify the specific goals you hope to achieve through the process. For instance, you may want assistance with discipline methods or communication techniques. Clarifying your goals will help your psychologist tailor the sessions to your needs.

What about Technological Requirements and Competences? 
To engage in online counselling, you will require a device that can connect to the internet and be able to install and use Google Meet for communication. A reliable high-speed internet connection (minimum 4Mbps for video) is also required. Please be aware that online counselling may utilise significant amounts of data, especially if video (300-800MB/hour) is used.  The Child Behaviour Centre will send you a meeting invitation, with a Google Meet Link on the morning of the scheduled appointment. Kindly log on, at the required time to start the session timeously.

What are the Procedures for Technical Difficulties? 
Disruptions can occur when using the internet to communicate. Should our communication be disrupted, we will immediately attempt to reconnect and resume the session. Please consider the impact of loadshedding in your area, when scheduling your appointment, and possible alternatives to ensure that the session goes ahead as scheduled.

Arrange a Suitable Environment:
Find a quiet environment free from distractions for counselling sessions. Ensure your children are supervised or occupied elsewhere to maximise your focus on the counselling process. Utilise headphones if necessary to maintain privacy.

How is Confidentiality Handled?
Any information provided to the Child Behaviour Centre will remain confidential and will not be given to a third party unless you give specific permission to release the information. However please be aware that if there is a significant risk of you seriously harming yourself or another person we will be obliged to act to prevent harm, which may involve giving information to a third party.

Online counselling utilises the Internet for the transmission of personal information and therefore there are increased risks to confidentiality and it cannot be guaranteed. To protect your confidentiality, we are required to use services that provide encryption to communicate. Please consider password protecting the devices you use and installing antivirus software to prevent access by third parties.
Please ensure that you use a quiet private environment when engaging in online therapy so that intrusions can be minimised.

Schedule and Commit to Sessions:
Commit to your scheduled counselling session to ensure achieving meaningful progress. Make sure to prioritise these sessions and avoid distractions or interruptions during the designated time.

Be Open, Honest, and Willing to Share:
Online parental counselling is most effective when you are open and willing to share your concerns, doubts, and experiences. Honesty allows the psychologist to understand your situation fully, enabling them to provide tailored guidance and support.

Actively Participate in the Sessions:
Engage actively by asking questions, seeking clarification, and actively participating in discussions.
You are welcome to take notes during the sessions to remember key takeaways and actionable steps recommended.

Practice and Implement the Strategies and Techniques:
Implement the strategies and techniques discussed in the counselling sessions consistently in your daily life. Actively practice and experiment with these methods and provide feedback during subsequent sessions to refine and adjust as needed.

Embrace Patience and Flexibility:
Realise that change takes time and parenting challenges may require experimentation and adjustments. Be patient with yourself, your children, and the counselling process. Stay open to adapting your approach as you progress.

Evaluate Progress and Celebrate Milestones:
Regularly reflect on your progress and celebrate the milestones achieved along the way. Acknowledge the positive changes you have made and use them as motivation to continue working on areas that still require attention.

Crisis Management: 
It can be difficult to deal with emergency crisis situations when using online counselling as we are in separate locations. You will therefore be asked to provide the contact details of a local family or friend and a local medical practitioner who can be contacted in the case of an emergency. If you are in crisis and there is a disruption while we are engaging in online counselling, then you should immediately phone the practice.

Legal Recourse: 
Sigi Graham is a registered Counselling Psychologist (Registration No: PS0080535) with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), professional behaviour is governed by this regulatory body. Please note that if you are not located in South Africa then any legal recourse will only be available in South Africa. You can verify this registration with the HPCSA at the following
link: http://isystems.hpcsa.co.za/iregister/

POPI and Consent to Online Counselling document:
The POPI Privacy Statement is made available to clients before he/she signs a Consent to Online Counselling document. (The Privacy Statement is available in the practice and on the website) Please consult the statement before signing the Consent to Online Counselling Document.

Conclusion:
Online parental counselling offers a valuable platform to gain guidance, support, and effective strategies in raising your children. By following this comprehensive guide, you can maximise the benefits of online counselling, creating a nurturing and harmonious environment for your family. Remember, the journey to successful parenting is a continual process, so embrace the knowledge and tools gained through counselling and keep striving for growth and improvement.