Q: Is e-therapy as effective as f2f counseling?
A: There have been many research studies on the effectiveness of various psychotherapeutic techniques and delivery models. Although most indicate clearly that psychotherapy is effective, no large scale study has been able to show much difference in the effectiveness of one kind of therapy over another, or the effectiveness of one delivery model over another.
Q: Then what does make a difference? Why do some people improve with therapy while others don't?
A: Of course, there are some factors for increased effectiveness that depend on the therapist. For instance, a therapist who believes that what she is doing has therapeutic value will have clients who will be more likely to benefit than will the therapist who does not believe in what she is doing. I believe in what I am doing, and that fact alone increases your chances for a good outcome. Sorry if that sounds a little hokey, but research bears this out.
The quality of the relationship formed between the client and the therapist is also an important indicator of positive outcome. Some people are more able to form good relationships in person; others prefer to make connections through the internet. If you have established other positive relationships over the internet, that is one good indicator for the probability that you will do so with me as well and it increases the likelihood that you will be able to make use of Cyber Story Therapy to achieve your goals.
Q: How do I know if this will be effective for me?
A: A good deal of any therapy's effectiveness will not depend on the therapist at all. It will depend on you. So it's very important to ask yourself some hard questions before you begin therapy, such as-
Am I willing to see things differently?
Will I take what I learn in therapy and use it in other parts of my life?
Am I ready for change?
Am I willing to take responsibility for making the changes that will
improve my life?
If the answer to these questions is "yes," the likelihood that therapy will help you meet your goals is very good.
Q: I saw a web site that said e-counseling is not really therapy. Is that true?
A: I too have seen that statement. I would say that whether or not you agree with this opinion is dependent on how you define therapy. If you define it as an experience between a therapist and a client who are sitting in the same physical space as they explore the client's problems, then e-counseling does not meet that requirement. If you define it more broadly, as most dictionaries do, it absolutely meets the criteria for therapy. As long as a client and a therapist are able to establish a relationship over the internet, believe in what they are doing and agree to work together toward the accomplishment of the client's goals, the web can be a very effective medium for therapy.
Q: How do I get started with Cyber Story Therapy?
A: Write your story. Your story is most often the story of what made you decide to seek therapy, but it can be a story about any aspect of your life that you would like help with resolving. For the purposes of this service, please format your story in a Microsoft Word or similar document using Times New Roman 12 point font.
Q: Then what?
A: Send me an email* to advise me of your interest and click the pay fee link below. This will take you to PayPal where you can pay for your Cyber Story Therapy with a credit card or bank draft.
Q: How much is this going to cost me?
A: $20 per double spaced page. You may send as many or as few pages as you wish at any given time.
Q: Okay, so you have my money. Now what?
A: PayPal will notify me when they receive and process your payment. I will send you an email saying we're good to go.
Q: ...and then?
A: I will give you access to one of my secure, encrypted email accounts so that you can send in a portion of your story. Since you have used Microsoft Word or a similar software to write your story, you can just add it as an attachment and send it by email.
Q: But I don't even have a story.
A: Everybody has a story; maybe you just haven't written yours yet. In that case, it's usually easiest to write about what made you desire change enough that you are willing to hire a change consultant to help you achieve it.
Q: What will you do when you get my writing?
A: I'll carefully read and consider what you have sent, then respond in the manner you are accustomed to therapists responding--thoughtfully, respectfully and accurately.
Q: So if you're like most therapists, why should I pick you?
A: You shouldn't unless you can tell from what I have written on my web site that we would be a good match. Maybe you like to write, as I do. Maybe you can read between the lines, as I believe I will be able to read between yours, and determine that we have shared values or a similar sense of humor.
Q: What makes you different from other therapists who share my values or sense of humor?
A: I will look at your work in two ways, as a therapy story that I will respond to with therapeutic insight, and as a narrative, that I will respond to as a writer. Same project; bigger tool kit.
Q: What the *(*"/#.>(^&*$does that mean? Give me an example.
A: Good idea. Let's pretend you send me a story about how your boss is always mean to you for no reason and wrote you up just because you are late every day, smoke at your desk, take a two hour lunch and hang up on customers. "But I'm a dedicated employee who doesn't deserve a reprimand," you might say.
I don't need to tell you what my therapy self would say, because you are probably already saying it yourself. But my writer self might see this story as containing a flagrant violation of the writing rule Show, Don't Tell.
Show, Don't Tell means that if you want me to believe you are a dedicated employee, don't tell me you are a dedicated employee-show me. Show me by describing the way you worked overtime to get a big order out or called a customer to tell him he accidentally left his $20 bill on your counter when he was checking out. Then, the narrative (and your self-evaluation) is believable because you've painted a picture for me and I will understand the meaning behind the image.
Q: Speaking of images, I can't see your license hanging on the wall of your office. How do I know you are really a licensed counselor?
A: You can't see it on the wall but you can see it on the net. Follow this link to a page on the web site for the Georgia Composite Board of Professional Counselors, Social Workers and Marriage and Family Therapists. There you can find my name listed in connection with my license number, LPC003240.
Q: Since your license was issued by the state of Georgia, do I have to live in Georgia in order to participate in Cyber Story Therapy?
A: Distance counseling is a new medium for therapy and the question you pose has not yet been answered by the state board.
Most mental health professionals who practice over the internet consider their home state to be the location of their office. When you access Cyber Story Therapy, you are in effect visiting my office in Georgia. This is similar to a case in which a resident of Alabama might drive to my brick and mortar office for a session. There is an exception for residents of California, where the law specifically says that counseling must be done for inhabitants of the state by practitioners licensed by the state.
Currently, no state issues licenses for cyber practice. The Distance Credentialed Counselor designation is not location specific, but is meant for professionals anywhere who practice by electronic means.
Q: When can I expect to hear back from you after I send in my story?
A: For stories of five pages or less in length, I will respond within 48 hours. Longer stories may take a little longer to respond to thoroughly, but in such instances I will email you and let you know when to expect a full response.
Q: How long will therapy last?
A: You are under no obligation for any specific amount of time and may terminate whenever you wish. In some cases, if I believe that you would greatly benefit by ongoing therapy, I will make that recommendation and work with you to determine how you can access help if you need it. My hope for you is that you stay until the ending of your therapy story, or even your life story, is shaping up into that classic story line, "and (s)he lived happily ever after..."
