Our Chief Professional Standards Officer spoke about how coronavirus lockdowns have led to an increase in online therapy during an interview on national BBC radio.

Fiona Ballantine Dykes was invited onto the Adrian Chiles programme on BBC Radio 5Live to discuss how counsellors and their clients have adapted to the pandemic.

Online counselling

鈥淚t鈥檚 been an explosion of availability in terms of online counselling,鈥� said Fiona, who is also our Deputy Chief Executive.

鈥淭here were always therapists who did work online and on the phone as well, and there are people who are very skilled in that.

鈥淲hen the pandemic happened we were ready to do something different.

鈥溝愀哿喜示甲柿� supported our members by getting CPD available straight away through a free module with the Open University to help them upskill to be available to work with people who were obviously going through a really difficult time.鈥�

The programme heard from former professional footballer Clarke Carlisle, who described his experience of online counselling as 鈥渋ncredible鈥�.

He said: 鈥淚 went and got a new set of sessions with a therapist and here is where the serendipity is.

Experience of counselling

鈥淗ad it been normal circumstances the PFA (the Professional Footballers鈥� Association) would鈥檝e found me a counsellor geographically appropriate.

鈥淏ut because of lockdown they were able to pick any therapist they thought was suitable.

鈥淭his guy was my Yoda. We had sessions over Zoom, that I was apprehensive about at first, but let me tell you modern technology is a wonderful thing.

鈥淭his man, he spoke into my situation. He opened up my mind in a way that I don鈥檛 think I鈥檇 have been ready for two or three years ago. It鈥檚 incredible.鈥�

Fiona said that there may be a change in the balance of how counselling is delivered when lockdown restrictions are eventually eased.

鈥淭here will always be a place for face-to-face,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 know from my own clients some are keen to get back and others will be happy to stay online.鈥�

How to find a therapist

And Fiona said people who want to access counselling can find a therapist via our directory.

鈥淢embers will indicate how they work, what they charge, what their specialisms are if there鈥檚 a particular area they鈥檙e very skilled at,鈥� she said.

鈥淚 always recommend people have a go. Meet the therapist. See how you get on. It鈥檚 a very individual thing.鈥�

. The section starts at one hour, 51 minutes and 36 seconds.