Phone Therapy: A Guide for Practitioners Working with Voice Alone

Description

Phone therapy is as relevant as it was 50 years ago. The increased use of this medium during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the revision of professional therapy body guidance, has endorsed the validity and effectiveness of phone therapy. The book updates, revises and reinvigorates the medium for individual therapists, counselling services and training organisations in a post-lockdown world, where blended therapy is the norm. It includes practical considerations, phone-related theory, personal experience and self-reflection exercises. Contributing counsellor vignettes cover topics such as adapting theoretical modalities and EDI considerations without visual cues. From assessments, contracting and core skills to assumptions, disinhibition and privacy issues, it supports therapists and counselling organisations to embrace the accessibility, flexibility and creativity that therapy by phone provides. Relevant for experienced and trainee therapists alike, this book provides practitioners with the support and knowledge to confidently use phone therapy in their practice. Cover Endorsements Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Table of Contents Preface Acknowledgements 1 You can trust what you hear Hearing is our fastest sense What is hearing exactly? So how do we hear? The pathway of sound Frequency, amplitude and the soundtrack of Jaws Sudden noise and misophonia Silence and heightened arousal Hearing is always switched on Theories of selective attention The Cocktail Party Effect ‘Halfalogues' Hebbrian plasticity How we manage degraded sound Human sound, emotion and the therapeutic relationship 2 Phone therapy uncovered The setting How helplines differ from phone therapy Limitations and benefits of phone therapy Phone therapy’s greatest attributes Main differences between phone and face-to-face therapy 3 Communication and core phone therapy skills Non-verbal communication and paralanguage The therapist’s voice The effective therapeutic phone alliance 4 Theoretical modalities used in phone therapy Person-centred Psychodynamic Integrative transpersonal Pluralistic Cognitive behavioural therapy 5 The contract – working legally, professionally and ethically on the phone Security and confidentiality relating to phones Therapist’s digital footprint When and how to contract Contracting with clients Phone therapy contract with clients The first session 6 Assessment, psychological suitability and risk The phone therapy assessment Assessing risk Working with eating disorders and substance abuse on the phone Referral and signposting pathways 7 Equality, diversity and inclusion within phone therapy Disability Hearing loss Race and culture Gender, sexual and relationship diversity (GSRD) Older people Children and young people 8 Creative interventions for phone therapy Suggestions for safe creative working on the phone Expressive writing therapy Visualisation Grounding the client during phone therapy 9 Considerations for supervision by phone Phone supervision or supervision on the phone? Models of online supervision Adapting face-to-face supervision for the phone Contracting and practicalities for supervision by phone Helping the supervisee develop communication skills for phone therapy Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) as part of phone supervision Psychological suitability and managing risk during supervision Understanding the context and legal implications of the supervisee’s work Choosing a phone therapy supervisor Index