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Benefits from having a therapist in a different time zone
- Mark Colclough
By Mark Colclough, Couples Therapist and Fully Qualified Psychotherapist M.A.
“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst”… It doesn’t have to be this way. – William Penn
Benefits from having a therapist in a different time zone
It wasn’t long ago that differing time zones were seen as a barrier, rather than an opportunity. Trying to schedule a call with a friend or colleague 8 to 10 hours ahead of was often a monumental mission. And before conferencing technology, everyday life could be utterly disrupted by someone changing locations.
Back then, if you had a regular appointment, such as for therapy, this would need to be put on hold until you returned from a trip you took. And if you moved to a different location permanently, you’d need to find a new therapist altogether. In this instance, any progress made with a therapist would be lost, and the therapeutic relationship that had worked so well until that point would end.
But those days are behind us …
Not only can therapy now be done anywhere, at any time, since I am offering you a richer and more holistic experience by taking therapy online.
How online therapy works in different time zones
Online therapy defies time and location. Whether you are a Danish national who frequently travels for work, or a person currently living in an entirely different timezone to mine (CET), online therapy is an option throughout your day and mine.
The benefits of working this way include:
Convenience:
I understand that when you’re on holiday or at a work function, your schedule is disrupted. We can fit therapy around your pre-existing commitments so that it remains convenient and accessible. Furthermore, if you have signed up to a therapy subscription, we can utilize technology so that we can send each other files, voice notes, emails, whatsapp messages and pre-recorded videos in between sessions. If it is afternoon for you in Asia, or the middle of the night in Los Angeles, and you have a need for help – perhaps a personal revelation or immediate challenge, you can contact me at that moment, and I will respond as soon as I become available – usually within a few hours.
Continuity:
Studies have shown that disrupted sessions can inhibit therapy’s success and impact on the client/therapist relationship – therefore should be avoided. If we are having weekly sessions (whether these are in-person or online) and then you get called abroad, continuity is possible. We simply schedule an online session with your new time zone in mind
