Counselling is suitable for everyone dealing with a variety of challenges and needs someone to talk to. With hectic lifestyles in Singapore, it can be difficult to find someone who will listen to you without passing judgment. As a result, seeking the advice of a trained professional is the greatest way to maintain a positive outlook.
Last year, the number of suicides among teens was the highest compared to other age groups, according to statistics from the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS). Between April 2019 and March 2020, SOS received 4,124 calls from this age group, much more than the 3,396 calls received in 2018. Many people felt alone and had difficulty coping with their mental health difficulties due to the serious COVID-19 situation last year.
As a result, many people are unsure which method to utilize to address these issues: in-person counselling or online therapy.
Talk with a counsellor about how they can help you out!
What Is Online Counselling?
Did you know that counselling in Singapore therapy sessions can be conducted in a variety of ways? You can book a counselling appointment online in addition to the more traditional method of meeting face-to-face.
Online counselling does the same thing as in-person counselling but with an innovative and unique approach. The communication method differs between the two—online counselling sessions take place through the internet.
Pros of Online Counselling
More Communication Tools Online
As previously said, online counselling can be conducted through a variety of online communication techniques, including video chats, phone conversations, text messaging, and emails. You can choose any accessible option for your counselling in Singapore based on your preferred manner of communication. However, video conferencing is the best alternative for simulating the sense of in-person counselling.
Accessibility for People with Physical Disabilities
When it comes to getting mental health care, mobility might be a problem. Suppose you are unable to leave your home for various reasons, such as being housebound. In that case, online counselling in Singapore can provide you with assistance and emotional support while you recuperate physically from your symptoms.
Convenient and Affordable
Thanks to online counselling in Singapore, you can now fix an appointment with your therapist with just a few taps and clicks. You can book your counselling appointment around your other obligations. Furthermore, because you have your counselling session online, there are no travel expenses to consider.
Cons of Online Counselling
Direct Assistance is Difficult to Provide
During an online therapy session, it can be difficult for the therapist to provide quick, direct aid to clients who are having suicidal thoughts. This is due to the fact that therapists are separated from their clients, as opposed to when treatment takes place in the same room.
Not recommended for people with more serious psychiatric issues
If you are coping with severe mental health issues or more complicated concerns, internet counselling may be insufficient and unsuitable for you. This is due to the fact that significant psychiatric illnesses may necessitate close monitoring and treatment.
Nonverbal cues are often overlooked
In comparison to in-person counselling, online counselling sessions lack the intimacy and depth of in-person counselling. Therapists investigate your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors using nonverbal signs such as facial expressions, body language, and vocal signals. However, when therapists conduct counselling sessions through the internet, they cannot observe what is going on on the other side of the screen.
What is in-person counselling?
In-person therapy is a face-to-face or in-person conversation with a certified therapist that provides mental health care. Weekly sessions usually last 45 minutes to an hour and take place in an office setting.
Pros of in-person counselling
Different types of therapy
More types of treatment are available, including ones that include creativity (such as art or music therapy) or those that entail training your body’s response to stress and trauma (such as stress management) (like Neurofeedback or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy [EMDR]).
Nonverbal communication
Therapists can read nonverbal clues that assist verbal communication during in-person sessions. Nonverbal cues can assist a therapist in better understanding your requirements.
Neutral location
Sessions held in a therapist’s office might provide a haven away from the stresses of regular life. When discussing personal information, a neutral environment can help you feel more at ease.
Cons of in-person counselling
Cost
Because rates for in-person and virtual therapy are often similar, neither format has a cost advantage. In-person counselling in Singapore might cost anywhere from $40 to $150 per hour.
Accessibility
For some people, getting to and from treatment appointments might be difficult. Traffic jams, public transportation problems, and travel time all add up. Taking time away from work or other commitments can also make in-person counselling in Singapore more difficult to obtain.
Timing
Long wait times, whether owing to a lack of availability or conflicting schedules, may require a delay in starting sessions with a new therapist.
Closure
Today’s society places great value on counselling sessions—particularly given that the number of suicide cases in Singapore is on the rise. So, if you’re having trouble with your mental health and need professional help, don’t keep it to yourself.
Online counselling sessions & in-person counselling, like many other things, come with their own benefits and drawbacks. Make sure to examine every aspect before making a decision based on your current position.
