People often ask me about how best to choose the 'right' therapist and I always ask them to think about logistics, such as budget and where they are located travelling an hour each way to meet a therapist may be more stress than it's worth . I also suggest that they listen to their sense of how it feels when they are in the consulting room, in other words, to rely on their 'hunch' that it feels right or not - as this can often be reliable.

But these considerations can't apply in the same way for now, as we all adapt quickly to having to choose, and then work with, a therapist online or on the phone . I have worked in this way for over five years now, both as a therapist and client  - so I draw on tips from both sides of the screen.

Choosing an online therapist

Given that choosing a therapist is no longer bound by geography, you may find yourself overwhelmed with choice, but:

• You may want to consider a therapist who does practice near you. We won't be confined at home forever, and if the therapy continues, you may well switch to meeting in person again.
• As ever, ensure that your therapist is professionally qualified and if chosen via welldoing.org this will be the case
• As you would IRL 'in real life' , don't feel pressured to select 'the one' immediately. Take your time to consider a few, and ask for a chat before you commit to further work. Some therapists offer free initial consultations.
• Ask about experience of online work - some therapists like myself have been working online for years now, others may be very new. Some therapists have particular training in online work. You may prefer to choose someone with experience.
• The UKCP and BACP prefer ways of talking online that are encrypted and therefore preserve confidentiality - such as Zoom and Vsee.