Online versus face-to-face hypnotherapy is all about what’s right for you - the client.
Not, NOT, because it suits the therapist and their business model.
There are lots of articles pushing you to on line. And it has good data behind it.
But online versus face-to-face hypnotherapy is not about one versus another: it’s what’s right for you.
Online versus face-to-face hypnotherapy. The case for online.
Most obvious is that you save time and money. You don’t have to travel anywhere, pay of petrol, parking, train fares etc.
And the choice. Quite literally you can choose any therapist in the world.
Then there’s the convenience if you work from home, or have child care challenges, you can schedule a time that works for you.
Plus there’s only a slight chance of a technical problem these days. We don’t live in a world of dial up. The connections and images are great now.
Also, if home - your private space - feels like your safest place then you’re most likely to be receptive.
Finally certain conditions may dictate that online is the only way. For example:
- cancer patients might not want to go out and risk infection
- you’re bed bound
- you’ve new knee or hip (although I can help get you up and about and give you the confidence to get going again)
- a leg break - skiing, skateboarding, a bad football tackle and you want to keep your therapy sessions going
- You have incredible sensitivities to noise, light and the everyday sounds of the outside world, for example opening a car with a plip/remote is enough to trigger a seizure. Likewise a passing police. Siren.
The case against online.
Firstly, there’s a technical challenge for some cases. There’s a need for really high definition screens. For example, when a client has eczema or psoriasis and you need to see how much the inflamed patches have gone down it’s not always that easy.
Head shots can also prove a problem. Looking to see how agitated someones body is. They’re picking their nails out of shot, looking away at a phone - not giving their undivided attention, how many other windows/screens do they have open? Are they constantly crossing and recrossing their legs?
Also, is it safe? If the underlying condition is narcissism or coercion is the cause of this listening in? Or just out of shot?
Finally, an online session might be ‘too easy’ and reinforce an existing behaviour. For example, if you’re an agoraphobic, scared of travelling, public transport, worried about driving, or hate crowds. Staying in and having an online session doesn’t give you nay exposure and start to address the issue. Ultimately you have to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
Online versus face-to-face hypnotherapy. Why have face-to-face
In some instance online therapy can be too ‘convenient’.
What I mean by this is that the journey to me, the therapist, can be part of the exposure therapy. The journey is part of the process.
As I mentioned earlier, for example, if you have:
- Agoraphobia
- A fear of driving
- A fear of public places and transport
- A phobia of visiting new places.
If this is what we’re working with these conditions need to be hit out of the park. And facing up to them is a big part of you learning new behaviours. Not staying inside.
It’s also easier for the therapist to read a client’s body language face-to-face.
- You can see how badly a client is itching with their psoriasis or eczema
- Are they crossing and re-crossing their legs, wringing their hands
- Smell any drink on their breath
- Tell if they’ve just had a cigarette
- If they really have lost the weight they claim
Also role playing is more effective. Say, if I’m trying to help someone with a bullying boss, we need to practice both what is said (assertiveness training) and the body language to go with it.
Finally, post COVID more and more of us need to simply get out and meet people. It’s our better nature. We’ve been social creatures since at least the Late Cretaceous period, which was about 75.5 million years ago. Now that’s a learned behaviour that’s hard to break.
Face-to-face challenges.
In other words these are the benefits of online versus face -to-face hypnotherapy. To reiterate:
- It’s too much time out of your day
- You feel more comfortable at a distance
- You say time and money
- You’re uncomfortable face-to-face describing your condition. You feel it would stop you - full stop - to talk outside of the comfort of your home.
Online versus face-to-face hypnotherapy. Blending the two
When you compare two differing modes it can be that the two appear to be antagonistic, rather than complimentary. In other words, both have their place and can work together.
Here are some case studies.
1. Cancer. Rather than risk of infection online - and the client is simply too tired from the chemo- and radio-therapy. Then as the patient gets better and wants to venture further afield, come to me.
2. Those I usually see in a consulting room that need an appointment at distance. For example, an athlete at an overseas race the night before. We can do some visualisation work for example.
3. I’ve had clients break a leg skiing and need to keep their weekly appointment so it’s done on line
4. Those I see on line but coming to me is part of the treatment. Agoraphobics, those afraid of travel, driving somewhere. Coming to me helps them form a new better habit.
5. Dealing with narcissists and coercion/control. As my client learns to stand up to them and come and see me when I’m seen as a ‘threat’.
Online versus face-to-face. You choose. Here’s how you get in touch.
I’m James Thomas a Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapist. I call myself The Gentle Mind because I believe you’re a better version of yourself when you’re calm. Then you can think and talk your way out of whatever’s stopping you move forward - stress, anxiety, over eating, phobias, low self-esteem, drug addiction, over coming loss, to name but a few.
My website is www.thegentlemind.co.uk There’s my mug shot in front of you, and that may be the closest we ever get to each other.
Alternatively, I have consulting rooms in Leeds, York, Lincoln and Louth where I’ll be more than happy to put the kettle on and see you. Feel free to call on 07787563099 or get in touch here.
