Finding the right counsellor can be hard enough, but then you have to find the right counselling method too! Thankfully these days if traditional face-to-face sessions aren’t a good fit for your needs there are lots of other ways to access support. Email counselling offers a private and incredibly flexible alternative to traditional face to face counselling, allowing you to connect with a counsellor in a place, space and at a time that works best for you.
In this blog, we’ll explore how email counselling works, who it’s for, and why it could be the perfect choice for you.
What Is Email Counselling?
As you’ll have guessed during email counselling we will communicate via emails instead of in person or on a video platform. Instead of attending in-person sessions, you share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences in writing. I will then respond with insights, guidance, and tools to help you move forward.
Is Email Counselling Effective?
Absolutely! Email counselling can be just as effective (sometimes more so) as traditional therapy, particularly for people who:
- Struggle to speak about their feelings face-to-face.
- Feel nervous or uncomfortable being seen by their counsellor.
- Have busy or unpredictable schedules that make regular appointments difficult.
For many, writing can feel more natural and less intimidating than saying things out loud, if this sounds like you then email counselling is an excellent alternative to face to face counselling.
How Does Email Counselling Work?
One of the ways Email counselling is different to other methods of meeting is that we won’t be communicating in real time. This is one of the reasons that you can write your email whenever the best time for you is, giving you time and space to think through what you’d like to say and how you’d like to say it. This is how it will work:
- We agree on a schedule: Together, we’ll choose a weekly day and time for your email to reach me.
- Write at Your Own Pace: You don’t have to send it exactly at that time. You can write and send your email whenever it suits you, whether that’s early morning, late at night, or during a quiet moment in your day. As long as its with me before the agreed time, do it in a way that’s right for you. To make the most of your session, I suggest you protect a time and space where you can focus fully on your email without being interrupted.
- Receive a Thoughtful Response: I’ll reply at an agreed time too, this is usually 48-72 hours of your email being due. Just like I suggest for you to do, I will protect a time that is specifically for reading, reflecting on and replying to your email, just like I would for any other kind of session.
This flexible structure ensures you’re not rushed, allowing us to create meaningful, reflective conversations. Having said that if you’re neurodivergent and need that time limit pressure to get started, then the “deadline” can serve that purpose too.
What Are the Benefits of Email Counselling?
- Fits Around Your Life
Whether you’re juggling work, caring responsibilities, or health challenges email counselling fits into your schedule. You can write at a time that works for you, without the pressure of attending live sessions.
- Easier to Open Up
If talking in person feels overwhelming, email counselling provides a safe space to express yourself. You might find it easier to write about things you’re not ready to say out loud, helping you work through difficult emotions at your own pace.
- Accessibility for Everyone
Email counselling is ideal for:
Neurodivergent individuals: Write and process at your own speed without the stress of real-time communication.
Those with memory challenges: Keep a written record of your sessions to revisit whenever you need.
People with chronic illnesses: Write when you have the energy to pace yourself as needed. You can even choose to write a few words a day depending on your needs that week.
Privacy: If you have little or no privacy at home, meeting this way means you won’t be overheard and your sessions will be password protected.
Safety: If you struggle with anxiety, starting therapy can be a huge challenge in its self. With email counselling you can be home or in a space feels safest for you and wrapped up in your favourite blanket. This can help calm your nervous system and enable you to get started in a way that feels safe for you.
- Encourages Self-Reflection
Writing has therapeutic benefits, helping you process experiences and gain clarity. Email counselling combines the advantages of journaling with professional support, I can help you to reflect and let go of self-criticism.
- Express Yourself Creatively
Your emails don’t have to follow a strict format. You can use colours, emojis, diagrams, or even poetry, whatever helps you express yourself. This allows you more freedom for self-expression and a more personalised and engaging therapeutic experience.
FAQs About Email Counselling
How Long Should My Emails Be?
We’ll both have a 500 word limit (+10%), but you can write as much or as little as you like. Just be aware that I’ll only be able to respond to the first 500 words, so make sure anything you want a reply to is within the word count. Sometimes you might need to talk about something in more detail than the word count allows, if that’s the case, let me know and we can discuss some different options.
Do I Need Any Special Tools?
You’ll just need a device that can access the internet. I use Proton for email counselling as it’s a secure platform and free to set up an account. We’ll send and receive therapeutic emails through Proton only, this is to make sure our sessions stay safe and confidential.
Can I Include Attachments or Images?
Yes please do! If visual aids like drawings, photos, or charts help you express yourself, feel free to include them in your emails. You can express yourself in any way which works for you, including changing the text colours or using emojis. If you play music you can attached something you’ve recorded too. This is all about what works for you.
How Do I Know If It’s Right for Me?
The best way to find out is to try it! I offer a 50% discount for the first email session because email counselling doesn’t suit everybody, just like face to face or video sessions. If its not your cup of tea but you’d like to keep working together, I offer lots of other ways we can meet including outdoor counselling, ecotherapy, online or telephone counselling.
Why Choose Email Counselling?
Email counselling is more than just a convenient option, it’s a deeply personal and empowering way to access support. Whether you’re exploring therapy for the first time or looking for an alternative to traditional sessions, it offers a safe, flexible, and creative path to healing.
If you’re ready to take the first step, get in touch and we can arrange a time to talk about how I can help.