FAQ about Video Counselling
What are the technological requirements to make computer therapy happen?
Your therapist has a computer equipped with a video camera which is connected to the internet via a high speed connection.Technological requirements of the client's computer to facilitate this are:
-Windows 2000 or higher, MAC OSX or Linux with 1.2GHz (or faster) processor
-256 MB of RAM
-240kpbs (or faster) Internet connectivity
-Internet browser (Internet Explorer, Netscape, Safari, etc.) with Flash Player 7 plug-in
How complicated is it to connect with a therapist?
It is surprisingly simple with the program we have. You will be sent an email with a link to enter the "therapy room". You will enter the "room" after typing in the assigned room name, and entering the password you have been given. At the beginning of the session, the therapist will welcome you into the room and the session will occur. Your therapist will help you with the challenges you might have. It is a browser based system--no software to download!Depending on the quality of the connection, sound and video may go over the internet. If sound quality is poor, you may decide you'd like to have phone connection via a regular line to facilitate the session.
How secure is the communication that the therapist and I are having via this videoconferencing system?
Generally, Web/Video Conferences are hosted on MegaMeeting.com web servers in a data center using secure RTMP protocol over port 1935. If desired, a secure RTMPT protocol over port 80 (tunnel via http) and secure RTMPS protocol over port 443 (tunnel via https) can be done to allow audio and video to securely be transmitted from computer to computer. Please note that port 80 increases security to a yet higher level but at a cost of video quality...port 80 will be implemented on request.The web portion of our system utilizes 128-bit Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption at the browser level, securing the text chat that takes place within the Web/Video Conference. This technology, combined with 100% browser based technology allows close to 100% of all computers to be able to participate in the Web/Video Conference, without clients having to worry about the safety or security of their video, audio and text chat transmission.
Please ensure that you are participating in video therapy in a private room with some soundproofing where you are unlikely to be interrupted. This will allow you to fully engage in conversation with the therapist with minimal concern that your therapy will be interrupted or overheard.
I would like to engage in family therapy with another person, but life circumstances are such that we are geographically distant. Do we have to be in one location to make this work?
Anywhere with a camera and internet access will work. The therapist is able to connect members from a variety of locations. If a partner is serving overseas in the military, or work takes one spouse to a remote location, but you'd like to be working on issues while you're apart, the therapist can make it happen. Siblings that are geographically distant can work through trauma they experienced together as children. Parents and children who are separated by provinces but connected by a lifetime of relationship can resolve barriers that prevent a successful transition to adult relationships.
There is a counsellor in town who is accepting new clients. Am I better off working with a Bergen and Associates therapist?
Do your research and ensure you are satisfied with their credentials, professionalism, and ethical standards--choose your therapist carefully. Determine if there is a "dual relationship" which can interfere with the purity of the therapeutic relationship. A dual relationship occurs when you are not only in a therapist-client relationship, but may have another connection...you may coach the therapist's child, the therapist may be a colleague at work, or you may belong to the same book club. If you have concerns that this dual relationship may interfere with either your ability to be open with the therapist, or impact on the therapist's work with you, then you may choose to look at other options, including Bergen and Associates Counselling.Video therapy has advantages over phone therapy, or email therapy. Nonverbal commnication is a huge and often underestimated part of communication between people. However, video therapy is not the same as being in the same room. Being physically in the same room allows for yet a higher level of communication as total body language provides a more complete experience. Video therapy is not intended to replace local resources. There may be some interventions which are not as effective over the computer. Please check your local options first before booking an appointment for video therapy.
I come to Winnipeg occasionally for business or shopping. Can I come in for a session with the therapist when I am in Winnipeg?
Absolutely! Ideally, video therapy is supplemented by occasional visits to your therapist for an "in-person" session in Winnipeg. This can help with further video sessions as you are able to get a sense of what it is physically like to be in the same room with the therapist (and vice versa).How wierd does videotherapy feel?
Initially, for those who may not be familiar with video conversations via internet, there can be some initial strangeness to it. You are welcome to mention to the therapist and discuss it. However, most find that they are able to focus on the conversation at hand quite quickly.Likely, the biggest adjustment to videotherapy is eye contact. When the therapist is looking at your image on his/her computer screen, they won't be looking directly into the camera at that point. This results in an odd feeling as it feels they aren't really looking at you "straight in the eye". While we work to minimize this effect, please know that you have the therapist's full attention.