In-Person vs Online Sessions
I work with clients both in-person at my Manchester office in the UK and via video conferencing but which is preferable? It’s not as clear cut as you might think. Let’s look at the pros and cons of each.
In-Person Sessions
Pros
- Distance. Usually the best option if you are able to travel to your therapist.
- Proximity. It can feel reassuring to be in the same room as your therapist and there is always a feeling of connection that can be more difficult using other methods.
- A sense of occasion. Travelling to your therapist’s office creates time to reflect and anticipate and adds to the sense of occasion. After all, a past life regression or any hypnotherapy can be life changing.
- It feels more special. Again, going somewhere new can make the occasion feel more special and different.
- Communication. People communicate in more ways than just speaking. Having a good view of my clients enables me to pick up on subtleties of facial expression and body language that might otherwise be missed.
Cons
- Arrival. You may feel stressed on arrival due to traffic or having to find somewhere you have never been before.
- Nerves. You may feel more nervous visiting a therapists office although I do understand this and am well-practiced at putting my clients at ease before we start.
- Conditions. Clients with agoraphobia or other related phobias may struggle to attend.
Video Conferencing Sessions
Pros
- Distance no object. A great option if you want to see a particular therapist but they are just too far away or even in another country.
- Comfort. You never need to leave your home and so the whole thing can be done in familiar surroundings where you can make yourself as comfortable as possible.
- Travel. There isn’t any so you don’t need to go through the stress of travelling to and finding your therapist’s office.
- Intimacy. With a good pair of headphones or ear buds you can feel like the therapist is directly in your head.
- Suitability. This can be the most suitable option for agoraphobics and others who might feel severe stress when attending in person.
Cons
- Equipment. You will need a decent laptop and earphones/ear buds. You will also need to place the laptop carefully so that its camera has a good, well-lit view of your head and upper body. Balancing your phone or tablet on a cupboard is an absolute no-no due to stability.
- Seclusion. A bustling household may not be the best place to do this. You will need to find a quiet place and make sure you won’t be disturbed for the duration of the session.
- Internet. Although it is impossible to ‘get stuck’ in hypnosis, it can be quite distracting if the Wi-Fi signal is poor particularly if there are glitches in the audio. The therapist too may struggle if their view of the client keeps freezing. And if the connection drops completely, you may be left having to open your eyes, break concentration and reconnect which will disrupt the flow of the session.