Key points required to be considered before starting your sessions:
- Researching the counselor: It's important to gather information about the counselor's background and experience to establish trust. Look into their credentials and expertise in specific areas, as some counselors specialize in certain fields and may provide better guidance in those areas.
- Honest expression of problems: Instead of lying to our counselor, we should be open and truthful about our difficulties. By discussing our most painful emotions and issues, we can engage in meaningful guidance. Try to be explicit and sincere in expressing your feelings. If discussing something feels challenging, be direct with your counselor and ask for their assistance. The more comfortable and honest you are, the better the therapist can help you.
- Readiness for change: Online counseling is not a magical solution where weekly telephone or video sessions instantly resolve all your problems. The primary step towards effective therapy lies within you. Just like in face-to-face counseling, online counselors expect you to practice and apply techniques in real-life situations. This means that when embarking on this journey, you should be genuinely prepared for change from the bottom of your heart.
- Determining expectations: Before starting counseling sessions, clarify your expectations and goals, and understand where you want to reach. This way, you can better gauge the usefulness of the counseling sessions. For example, you should know if you're seeking to identify and treat a mental health disorder, learn to cope with a specific problem, enhance your thinking and problem-solving skills, recognize and address personal shortcomings, resolve interpersonal issues, or minimize decision-making errors. Setting expectations helps you communicate these aspects to the therapist and stay engaged with them.