ACTO
OLT4c have several options. We are fully online, delivering training in online counselling and supervision including diploma level to therapists PLUS we offer bespoke training courses to skilled helpers, helpline advisors and support staff assisting them to use their skills and work therapeutically and safely remotely.
Enrolling now for our in-depth qualifications beginning in September and October 2021.
“I became an online therapist in 2015 after realising that many people who could benefit from regular therapy might be unable to make appointments that they had to also factor in costs to travel to and from sessions, or were put off by the idea of being in a waiting room, or were unable to carve out the time to go out for therapy due to work or childcare, or other factors. My traditional therapy training was quite anti the idea of online therapy, seeing it as less than the “real thing” of face to face, I always felt this was wrong, and that not changing with the times would one unhelpful for clients and therapists alike. We use the internet for everything else, why should therapy be different? I believe in meeting clients where they are, and that the right match between a client and a therapist shouldn’t just be dictated by geographical proximity. Being able to meet clients online has also allowed for flexibility when clients have needed to relocate, changed work, or had major life changes like having children.
Since training in online therapy, as well as the UK, I have worked with clients in Malaysia, India, France, Slovenia, and Hong Kong. For many English Speaking expats, the ability to have therapy in their first language is invaluable.
I currently still live in the UK, although my dream is to move to a slightly warmer climate! Working online makes this a possibility too.”
Back in the day, when I trained as a counsellor, there was no mention of online work, and there was a happy assumption that all work would be face to face. I am hoping times have changed and that future therapists are shown the opportunities that working remotely can bring during their training. Sadly, it took a pandemic for me to be pushed into online work, but I’ve loved it! Back at the beginning of the first lockdown I began training, and have enjoyed, and learnt so much that I am now undertaking a course in online supervision. Will the Covid restrictions being lifted change me back to being solely face to face? Absolutely not! I plan on offering only part of my private practice as face-to-face work, the rest will remain in a virtual world – I believe in its merits that much.
Katrina Healey-Davis is ACTO’s International Director
2020 and 2021 have been years like no other. For online therapy this has seen enormous growth for our online profession. And so much to learn, so much to excite us.
Our Conference will be an exciting thought-provoking day with:
This is a conference for all mental health practitioners working online, including therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and other health care professionals.
Topics include:
There will be an exciting selection of workshops to choose from during the afternoon. You will be able to select two workshops from a large selection. Workshops will include Working internationally, Working with Children and Adolescents, Inclusivity, Diversity and Social Justice, but there will also be many more to choose from.
Membership Fees
From June 1st 2021, ACTO is introducing a small increase in its membership fees to keep pace with inflation. They are as follows:
Level 1 Member from £38.75 to £40
Level 2 Professional Member (including directory) from £56.75 to £60
Level 3 Senior Professional Member from £56.75 to £60
Associate from £30 to £35
Student from £19 to £20
Supervisors Directory from £12 to £15
We have been listening to you and we would like to give the members more input. Over the next two months the website will be completely overhauled by a professional designer. We want to do this well, so we are forming a small website working group. It will be headed up by me, the webmaster. It will include a few of your directors but we would also like to include some members.
Tasks would include:
Go through the current web content and select what stays and what goes
Help to think of a menu structure to make it easier to find your way around the website
Help setting the parameters for the new improved directories
Help thinking about images and new content for the website
Help thinking of what benefits we can add for members
If that appeals to you (It will involve several meetings with the working group and will take some hours of your time) and you want to help make the ACTO website better please email me at webmaster@acto-org.uk as soon as possible.
As client & counsellor needs change, the Mind network seeks to develop its digital capacity, accessing ACTO’s ethical framework and standards
ACTO, the Association for Counselling and Online Therapy, is delighted to announce that Mind are one of the organisation’s newest organisational members.
Mind is a federated network across England & Wales made up of over 115 local mental health charities. Many of the local Minds deliver counselling services, either as part of a local offer such as IAPT or independently of statutory services and specialist counselling to equalities groups.
During the pandemic, local organisations within the Mind network reported an increase in need, as well as observing that the requirements of clients and counsellors were changing too. The necessity to deliver counselling remotely, either using telephone counselling or online video therapy sessions, resulted in Mind to evaluate how to increase its digital capacity whilst maintaining and developing standards, working within a clear ethical framework.
Gavin Atkins, Head of Communities for the national MIND network, says: “Many of our local Minds deliver important mental health support, all of which depends on the need of the community they serve. For example, this could include peer support, psychoeducation groups, social prescribing and group activities.
“The Covid19 pandemic and restrictions meant that we needed to grow our online therapy services, so that our services are more inclusive – for example making sure that our services can better help people from different racial backgrounds – we know therapy is often inaccessible and so there is a need for more culturally appropriate support. What helps people manage their mental health varies from person to person, and we know that online therapy services do not suit everyone; which is why we will continue to offer face-to-face therapy and counselling, especially for people experiencing serious mental health problems (SMI’s).
“Online therapy does bring many benefits, including helping to reduce waiting times and make sure people get the support they need. That is why we decided to join ACTO. ACTO provides us with a nationally respected ethical framework and standards that the local mind network feels are vitally important when delivering a quality service.”
Adrian Rhodes, Chair of ACTO said, “ACTO is proud to welcome Mind into our growing membership. This year has been an incredible challenge for many people – and of course the superb organisations such as Mind who work tirelessly to help people with mental health needs. Almost overnight, counsellors and therapists have had to turn to new ways of supporting their clients, and many have embraced the opportunities offered by working online.
“We look forward to working with members of the Mind federated network, providing them with access to ACTO’s ethical standards and recognised training providers, upskilling their staff and thereby increasing service users confidence.”
EDITOR’S NOTES
ACTO is the Association for Counselling and Therapy Online. Membership is open to qualified professional counsellors, psychotherapists, counselling psychologists and CBT therapists registered with BACP, UKCP, BPS, BABCP or similar organisations.
Photo: Gavin Atkins, Head of Communications, Mind
OLT4C is one of our profession’s longest established online training providers. ACTO is delighted to welcome the organisation as an Online Training Provider.
One of the principal aims of ACTO is to ensure that it fully represents the rich diversity within our growing profession. We are therefore extremely pleased to confirm that OLT4C, widely recognised for the excellence of its provision of professional training in Online Therapeutic practice, is our newest Online Training Provider.
Suzie Mosson and Maria O’Brien are co-directors of OLT4C and describe the values inherent in their organisation:
“At the core of OLT4C is an ethos that ensures all students regardless of experience and/or academic achievement will step into a learning environment which is rooted in the principles of warmth, encouragement and compassion. We strongly believe that these principles are pivotal to empowering students to develop a crucial understanding of the knowledge, skills and awareness required for safe, legal and ethical online practice.
“Along with this, we are a warm and friendly group that values each student and their contributions.”
OLT4C offers an extensive range of CPCAB externally accredited professional training courses starting with, General Certificate in Online Counselling Skills, A Diploma in Online Counselling and a level 6 Diploma in Online Therapeutic Supervision. In addition,
they have various CPD courses, independent study workshops and regularly develop bespoke pieces of training for small, medium and large corporate organisations.
In their joint statement announcing the decision to join ACTO, Suzie and Maria explained how online training can help practitioners to work online safely and confidently:
“One of the challenges we have faced and overcome is the idea that working online means working via video only. We recognise that the increase in this understanding is likely to have been informed by the initial guidance from counselling membership bodies in how to support clients during the early days of the global health crisis. The message then was, where possible therapists could offer to support existing face to face clients online until the therapy ended. In a bid to replicate the face-to-face counselling environment, hence they chose to work via videoconferencing.
“Thankfully, many therapists realise that working online without specific training is outside their limit of competence which raises questions around ethical practice. In a bid to bridge this gap they have sought externally validated training to develop their perception, comprehension, and prowess of this different discipline. OLT4C is well placed to meet these needs and as members of ACTO, we are demonstrating our transparency and responsibility as members of the national register.”
Adrian Rhodes, Chair of ACTO, said:
“ACTO values the contributions from every single individual member – and that includes the work of our Online Training Providers. We know that OLT4C has a very clear understanding and commitment to ensuring that counsellors, therapists and supervisors are trained, skilled and therefore able to treat their clients ethically and respectfully.
“We are grateful and honoured to have OLT4C on board as part of our growing organisation and look forward to the OLT4C team helping us to develop further services that meet the needs of online counsellors and therapists.”
As we have all been getting used to working online over the last few months, I have been conscious of a renewed focus that has been needed to create and maintain robust boundaries with our clients. Particularly given that for most of us this is new way of connecting with our clients.
We tend to take for granted the control we have over the counselling environment. Whether we work in an office away from our homes, or in a dedicated therapy space at home, we have full choice over what the space looks like, the ‘feel’ we wish to convey to help our clients feel safe, who and when someone enters this space, and when the session is ended.
Whereas, meeting our clients online means conducting sessions in their space, their homes, with no control over the room they choose to be in, and reduced influence over the potential for interruptions. We have limited control over technological glitches that may interrupt or prematurely end the session, while we do have control over the online communication platform that is used to hold the sessions on. Meaning we can maintain boundaries regarding the client’s data security and online confidentiality.
When technological issues arise, it is vital to have clearly set out in your contracting what you will do to try and reconnect, and if this is not possible, what alternative communication you will use to continue the session or rearrange. Knowing this process, along with your calm response in the moment, will help the client feel confident and safe with you. They will know that you are maintaining the boundaries through the clarity in how you will deal with the situation, and your firmness with time boundaries. It may be tempting to go over time to compensate for a technological problem that has arisen, while this pushes a boundary and sets a precedent that may be always be possible to repeat in the future.
The importance of remaining firm with your boundaries is further illustrated by the range of possible interruptions that can occur when the client is in their own home. From a child or partner entering and staying in the room, to a parent wanting to ‘meet’ the counsellor uninvited. Whatever the client says in terms of them being ok with the child or partner staying in the room, it is important to explain the reason for, and role of, confidentiality. I have spoken to counsellors who struggled to convey this firmly as the client was in ‘their’ home and so they felt that it is the client’s choice who is in the room. Explained clearly, the client will understand, and is often relieved at having a professional state on their behalf, what the boundaries are.
When you first entered your counselling room, I would guess that you spent time creating a therapy space that conveys a sense of safety, calm, professionalism, and security. A space where they can metaphorically leave their stories, traumas, and feelings in when they leave the session. Thus, creating a safety boundary to support the client to disclose and explore painful experiences and feelings. I often tell my clients that there is a bottomless pit in the space between us, for everything to go into. This is a double message; that they can leave behind what they have disclosed and shared in the room, and a self-care message to myself, that I do not expect to be left holding onto all my clients feelings and traumatic experiences.
This self-care message is even more vital now we are all working from home and may be doing so for some time. You may now be working from a room previously delegated as a social or family space. So, have been considering how to maintain physical boundaries, of no interruptions; and the emotional boundaries, by working out a process to step out of your counsellor persona into your private one as you walk out of the room.
This heightens the importance of discussing with your client what they will do immediately after the session to create a boundary between their counselling and the rest of their lives. Will they need time to process, and shift their emotions before able to re-join their family? Is this time available, or will they be expected to end the session and walk straight back into family life?
Working online reveals boundaries considerations for both the client and counsellor that do not arise when working within your own therapy space. By taking time to consider what they are and discussing them in your contracting will ensure that you both have clarity when responding boundary challenges. Which will help create a safe, secure space for your clients, and support your self-care when working from home.
Sarah Worley-James
This was first published in the BACP Cyberwork column
As always, we welcome as “ACTO Professional Members”, therapists who have completed tutor-led, assessed ‘Certificate” courses (Level 2).
We now also welcome as ACTO Members therapists who have done (unassisted) Level 1 CPD courses around online therapy.
ACTO also wants to encourage advanced training – so we have created ‘Senior Professional Membership’.
So – three levels of Membership – and three levels of ACTO Online Training Provider courses to match them.
The headlines:
How to apply
After a pause to regroup and prepare our processes and paperwork, we reopen for new applications and renewals on 1st November.
ACTO Professional Level and Senior Professional Membership (Levels 2 & 3) cost £56.75.
We hope that you will continue to value ACTO Membership. We have an exciting programme of developments in hand.
Adrian M Rhodes
Chair, ACTO