Millions of people search for mental health information on the Internet. There is so much information that it can be confusing to know if what you found applies to your situation. But now there are also professional counselors who will answer questions, provide psychological advice customized for you, and develop an ongoing relationship to help you explore personal issues — all from an evangelical Christian perspective. At New Reflections Counseling (NRC) you can connect with experts in spiritual, emotional, and mental health who are ready to give you individualized help.
Note:If you live outside of Ohio and cannot travel to one of our offices, we provide Christian Coaching instead of Christian counseling. The two have a lot in common. The main difference is counseling can focus on mild to severe concerns, while coaching is only for mild to moderate concerns.
Christian Counseling Online
Online counseling – “e-therapy” – is talking to a professional counselor through the Internet to give you the perspective, knowledge, and support you need to grow beyond your current troubles. You can meet with a professional for personal counseling, coaching, or advice from the privacy of your own computer. Using the Internet, professional counselors are forming effective helping relationships with people like you. Your concern may require only one session to address a focused question. Some concerns require an ongoing conversation. Online can be via live chat or via email.
E-therapy is a viable alternative when face-to-face counseling is not accessible. It’s effective. It’s private. It’s conducted by skilled, qualified, and ethical professionals. And for some people, it’s the only way they can get help from a professional counselor. Managed care and the mental health industry sometimes make it difficult for people to get the care they need. When traditional systems fail them, many people are turning to the Internet.
NRC Counselors are Professionals
NRC counselors are educated and credentialed mental health professionals. They have experience working with clients online and face-to-face, so you get the best of both worlds. Our counselors are knowledgeable and skilled professionals who are devoting their lives to sharing their expertise with those who want to make their lives better.
How does Online Compare with Face-to-Face?
Online counseling is different than traditional face-to-face counseling. There are ways online counseling is better than face-to-face counseling and ways face-to-face counseling is better. Online counseling is not a substitute for traditional counseling. NRC believes that people recover because of the therapeutic relationship between client and counselor. Online counseling lacks part of the experience of the relationship (experiencing the physical presence of one another is important for growth). If you have the opportunity to see a counselor face-to-face, NRC recommends you consider this option.
Why Online Counseling?
Sometimes, it is not possible or practical to see a counselor face-to-face:
- Do you live where you do not have access to a professional counselor?
- Is your schedule keeping you from getting help in person?
- Are your finances keeping you from seeing a professional counselor in person?
- Is your concern so personal that you are not ready to see a counselor face-to-face?
- Is the counselor you want to see in another state?
- Are you more “computer” literate than “people” literate?
Online counseling is:
- convenient – you save time, you only need to “travel” to your computer
- affordable – you save money because there is less cost (no travel, less overhead, etc.)
- therapeutic – like a massage for your soul and spirit!
- life-changing – receiving new ideas and perspective on your concerns helps you change
- safe – you are in control of how fast you reveal yourself to your counselor
In fact, online counseling is also called “convenience counseling” and “technology-assisted counseling”. If you cannot visit a counselor’s office, online counseling can be a helpful and effective alternative. Every day, responsible, competent, ethical mental health professionals are forming effective helping relationships via the Internet – relationships that help and heal.
Can you Form a Relationship just on the Basis of Typing Words?
Online relationships can have a remarkable intensity and intimacy that is very real – not imaginary. Many people reveal intimate thoughts and feelings much more easily over the Internet than they do face to face. There’s great power in the written word. Have you ever read a really good book and you get so engrossed that the characters come alive for you? What about reading the Bible? How about a love letter? People feel very deep emotions through the written word and very deep connections to other people.
When is Online Counseling not Appropriate?
Online counseling is not appropriate when:
- You are suicidal or in a similar serious crisis. If you are in crisis, you need immediate help! Call 1-800-SUICIDE or 911 or go to your local hospital emergency room.
- You do not like to type out your thoughts and feelings or are computer illiterate. Online counseling may require an extra effort on your part because your counselor will not have the usual visual clues. As with face-to-face counseling, the effectiveness of online counseling is in direct proportion to your openness and honesty, understanding that it can take up to a few sessions to become familiar with how counseling works – including your counselor’s personal style.
- You require the use of health insurance to pay for counseling
- Your situation is very complex. In this case e-therapy may be a short-term solution at best. If your online counselor feels you need more help, then he or she will refer you to an additional source of help.
Why should you Pay to Consult a Professional?
If participating in a support group or reading self-help information is all the help you need, then that’s wonderful. However, certain situations and difficulties are tougher to deal with alone. NRC counselors have developed specialized techniques of caring which have the potential to change your life, even when you have deep and persistent problems. This describes professional counseling — the intervention of a human being who has the specialized knowledge, training, skill and experience to help.
The assistance of a professional can help you identify your needs, enabling you to deal with them faster and more reliably through specialized treatment techniques. If you needed an antibiotic for an infection, wouldn’t you go to your doctor for the right treatment? Why deny yourself proper care for your emotional health? Unfortunately, most people take better care of their cars than their own emotional health. It is healthy to have an emotional/spiritual/psychological tune-up too.
I’m Interested! What Next?
Yes, I am ready to sign up for Professional Christian Counseling or Coaching Online!
Yes, I want to learn more about the financial investment!
Yes, I want to learn more about New Reflections Counseling!
How Can We Do This?
- Phone or Skype
- Live Chat Instant Message (IM)
Our sessions will take place via a prearranged telephone call or Skype video connection. Your counselor will provide counseling/coaching for non life-threatening concerns. If your need turns out to be urgent or life-threatening, your counselor will encourage you to find a counselor you can meet with face-to-face and may decline to provide further services without the ability to meet face-to-face. Fee must be prepaid.
You will meet your counselor online using mutually agreed upon chat software. Fee must be prepaid.
Your counselor will spend 60 minutes reading and responding to your email. Every effort will be made to fully address your concerns. Expect a response within 48 hours. Fee must be prepaid.
Please Note!
Only during face-to-face counseling are NRC counselors equipped to diagnose and treat life-threatening concerns.
If you live outside of Ohio, our help will be coaching instead of counseling.
If you have suicidal thoughts, you may need help immediately and should pick up the phone and call: 1-800-784-2433 from anywhere in the U.S; or call 911 and ask for help. If you’re anywhere outside of the U.S, please contact an emergency hotline service or a hospital emergency phone line in your area.