Last updated January 2024

Housekeeping 

Therapy sessions online can feel very different to in person sessions in pace and tone and perhaps more informal.

The following document is intended to help us get the very best out of working together online. Please would you read through it carefully. I may ask you to acknowledge you have done so. I hope you will be able to fulfil these requirements, however, should you be unable to, we would need to discuss whether working together online is the right choice for you.

Please ensure you have everything set up, ready in place for us to start the session at the scheduled time so we do not have to spend time getting the tech or practicalities sorted. 50 minutes can pass very quickly indeed in therapy.

Please remember that when working with you I am not only listening to your voice, I am also looking at your face and gestures, for example your hand movements, shoulder shrugs etc. So it is absolutely essential for our work that I am easily able to see both your head and shoulders clearly onscreen.

Netiquette

1. A fast, stable internet connection is absolutely essential for online sessions. Without a fast, stable connection online sessions can be very difficult, frustrating or even impossible. If you are at home, please ask any others in your home to limit their use of the internet at the same time as your session is taking place to maximise your bandwidth. Streaming and gaming can take up a lot of bandwidth.

2. Turn off or silence all your other electronic equipment eg phones and watches.

3. Turn off all notifications eg texts, alerts and emails on your device.

4. If you are concerned you may be overheard you can use headphones so only your voice can be heard.

5. Use a laptop or tablet not a phone. When using a tablet please use it statically not handheld. A modern fast laptop with a good camera and microphone is best. A noisy laptop fan switching on and off can be very distracting.

6. Position your camera at eye level, if necessary using books etc to raise your device. I do not want to be looking at your ceiling or up your nostrils!

7. Check your image before we start to make sure you are looking directly at the camera with your head and shoulders clearly on screen to replicate as natural a conversation as possible.

8. Also before we start check your image for lighting ensuring that your face is well lit from in front, not behind and not in shadow.

9. Please do not sit with your back against a window (backlit) or against a very dark background as I will not be able to see you well.

10. Please ensure that no artificial lights are interfering with the view onscreen as they can be distracting.

11. Please do not blur your background or use a virtual background. I want to see you in your real environment.

Software and Confidentiality

1. My preferred platform is Zoom. Zoom has a really good interface and good, continually enhanced security. I will email you a unique one-off Zoom connection code before each Zoom session. You will be unmuted each time we meet on Zoom.

2. We can also use FaceTime. FaceTime is extremely stable, easy to use and secure as it uses Apple’s own servers. However, it is easiest if you have an Apple device (iPad or Mac) to use FaceTime. Please use ak@allankelly.com for your FaceTime calls and not my text only number ending 111 or voice number ending 700 which will not work.

3. I do not use WhatsApp or Skype.

4. Please ensure you have regularly updated virus software password protection and firewalls installed on your devices.

Location, Privacy and Confidentiality

1. Locate yourself alone in a closed, private space where you will not be disturbed or interrupted by other people, noise, calls or pets. Please close your door.

2. Please be seated comfortably, not lying down or walking around during our session.

3. Please do not have your pets in the room during a session as they can be distracting.

General

1. Be ready to start our session exactly on time, not early, not late.

2. When using Zoom I will initiate the session by admitting you and you will be unmuted. When using FaceTime you will need to initiate the session by calling me at the start of the session. You do not need to message me first.

3. I do not allow sessions to be audio or video recorded.

4. I prefer therapy clients not to make notes during the session.

5. I will make some brief notes (‘aides memoire’) during the session.

6. You may have a hot or cold drink during the session but no food please.

Interruptions of Service

If our session is interrupted because for example the connection drops out and we cannot resume I will try to contact you by phone. Should you not respond I will contact you by text.

Transition time

If we were working together in person, you would have some transition time spent travelling to a physical consulting room.  You may like to spend this same time before our online supervision session thinking about your agenda for the session, that is what you wish to discuss with me.

It is also a really good idea to allow yourself some time afterwards to adjust back to your usual environment.

My end

I have invested in good tech to ensure that I am making our sessions online as effective as possible.

Questions?

Please let me have any questions about any of the above before we start our session. 

Phone and Text details

If there is a problem before or during our session you can contact me by

Phone 07 365 100 700

Text 07520 633 111