Exploring the Efficacy of Telephone Therapy
Each of us leads different lives with unique schedules. That's why it's important to consider the pros and cons of the platforms available for your therapeutic journey. In a world of ever increasing connectivity, online therapy, in particular, telephone therapy might be an appealing option for several reasons. But is it as effective as face-to-face therapy? Is it more effective?
If you've been considering an alternative to face-to-face therapy, this one could be for you.
Same as with many things in life, what works for you can vary wildly to what works for another. Therefore, when thinking of telephone therapy, some of the benefits include:
Increased Sense of Comfort and Safety: For many individuals, being in an unfamiliar place can heighten feelings of unease and anxiety, which may hinder the therapy process. Telephone therapy allows you to choose where you feel most comfortable for your sessions. Additionally it offers even greater freedom as you are not tied to looking at a device. You can decide not only where your therapy session takes place but also how you would like it to unfold, providing a conducive environment for free thinking. Being able to think freely may help some people gain a stronger bond with their therapist helping build on the trust between client and therapist.
Save on Transportation: Face-to-face therapy often requires travel, which can mean spending money on petrol or public transportation. Telephone therapy, on the other hand, can be conducted right from the comfort of your own home.
Accessibility: Telephone therapy opens up a world of accessibility. Since sessions take place where you feel most at ease, it becomes much easier to access therapy. This is particularly advantageous for individuals with physical disabilities or those residing in remote locations. Your sessions can take place anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection. And for those with limited internet connectivity, therapy is available with Relational Counselling throughout the UK and only requires a phone capable of receiving a call.
Convenience and Flexibility: No need to factor in transportation times into your schedule! Remote telephone therapy can seamlessly fit into your routine. It offers the convenience and flexibility of conducting sessions from anywhere, as long as it's confidential.
Mentioned above is the fact that being able to think freely may help build a stronger bond between therapist and client. But in a 1-1 Comparison, is telephone therapy as effective as face-to-face therapy?
Well one review article compared findings from multiple studies in an effort to find this out:
The article discusses a systematic review that was conducted to investigate the interactional differences between telephone and face-to-face psychological therapy. The study examined various factors such as duration, therapeutic alliance, disclosure, empathy, attentiveness, and participation in therapy sessions. Let's explore the key findings:
Duration: The review found that telephone therapy sessions tend to be shorter than face-to-face sessions. Several studies consistently reported statistically significant differences in session length between the two modes.
Therapeutic Alliance: Overall, there were no significant differences in working alliance ratings between telephone and face-to-face therapy sessions. The absence of visual and physical co-presence in telephone therapy did not appear to be detrimental to alliance formation.
Disclosure: The study found no significant differences in the degree of patient disclosure between telephone and face-to-face therapy. Patients showed comparable levels of openness, self-exploration, and disclosure of sensitive or personal information in both modes.
Empathy: Third-party ratings of counsellor empathy did not differ significantly between telephone and face-to-face therapy sessions. However, therapists themselves reported feelings of inferiority or inadequacy in the telephone mode compared to face-to-face.
Attentiveness: Patient ratings of how closely therapists listened did not significantly differ between telephone and face-to-face sessions. In fact, one study even found higher ratings of therapist listening behaviours in telephone therapy compared to face-to-face.
Participation: Patients were found to participate more actively in both video and audio (telephone) therapy sessions compared to face-to-face sessions. The enhanced sense of safety or increased effort to communicate in non-co-located settings may contribute to higher levels of patient participation.
In summary, the systematic review found no significant differences in therapeutic alliance, disclosure, empathy, attentiveness, or patient participation between telephone and face-to-face psychological therapy. However telephone sessions tended to be shorter than face-to-face sessions and therapists reported feeling more inadequate and inferior when compared to face-to-face therapists. Although, telephone sessions, which are conducted by our highly trained therapists at Relational Counselling, are provided at the same session length as face-to-face sessions, ensuring equal dedication to clients' well-being regardless of the chosen platform. Our therapists have extensive experience and exposure to phone therapy, and receive counselling themselves to further enhance their professional competence and effectiveness.
Therefore, you can be rest assured that in a world where things are becoming more automated and pushed online, and where it feels like the human aspects of life are being slowly erased. At least for therapy and in direct comparison, telephone therapy can and is just as effective as face-to-face therapy. Which one you choose to go for depends mostly on personal preference.
- By Patrick
References
ScienceDirect (2021) Are there interactional differences between telephone and face-to-face psychological therapy? A systematic review of comparative studies [online] Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032719319743 [Accessed at: 23rd June 2023]