Counselling That Fits Around Your Life

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Discover Online Counselling

11 October – written by Katrin Kemmerzehl – Blog

Have you ever thought about starting counselling, then found yourself putting it off? Perhaps you’ve wondered what you’d say, how you’d find the right person, or whether you’d feel comfortable talking about personal things with someone new.

Sometimes, arranging an appointment can feel like quite a lot in itself. You might already be tired from work, trying to keep up with everyday life or spending so much energy looking after others that there’s very little left for yourself.

Perhaps you’ve been telling yourself you’ll get around to it when things are a little less busy. Or maybe you’re not entirely sure what’s wrong. You just know that something doesn’t feel right, and you’d like some space to talk it through.

Online counselling can make taking that first step a little easier. I offer sessions through Psychology Today Sessions, a secure video platform designed with privacy in mind (Psychology Today, 2026). Once your appointment is confirmed, I’ll send you a link by email. At your session time, simply click the link, enter your name and we’ll be ready to talk.

You can settle into your favourite chair or sofa, make yourself a cup of tea and take a moment to arrive, without having to travel or rush to an appointment. We can begin with whatever is on your mind and take things at a pace that feels right for you.

What Is Online Counselling Like?

You might arrive at your first session with a clear idea of what you’d like to talk about. Or you might find yourself thinking, “I don’t really know where to start.” Both are good places to begin.

Counselling offers space to explore what’s happening in your life, understand your feelings and make sense of experiences that may be difficult to put into words. Perhaps you’re feeling overwhelmed, struggling with relationships, navigating changes, finding work more exhausting than it used to be, or wondering why certain things seem to take so much effort.

Sometimes, we become so used to getting on with things that we stop noticing how we’re actually feeling. We keep going, meet our responsibilities and try to manage everything as best we can. It can take a while to realise just how much we’re carrying.

In our sessions, there is room to slow down and pay attention to what’s going on for you. We can explore what matters to you, what you might need and what you’d like to be different. As we get to know each other, we’ll find a way of working that feels comfortable and helpful.

Research suggests that online counselling can help people feel understood, build trust with their counsellor and make positive changes in their lives (Seuling et al., 2024; Meyer-Keirath et al., 2026).

Online sessions offer a flexible way to access counselling from a place where you feel comfortable, giving you space to talk about what’s on your mind, make sense of how you’re feeling and find your own way forward.

The Comfort of Your Own Space

There’s something appealing about being able to talk from somewhere familiar. You might be sitting in your favourite chair, wearing comfortable clothes, with a cup of tea within reach and the heating turned up just how you like it. Perhaps you prefer to sit on the sofa, curl up in bed or find a quiet corner where you can relax and talk freely.

You don’t have to think about the journey, find your way around an unfamiliar building or sit in a waiting room before discussing something personal. You can arrange your surroundings in a way that helps you feel more at ease.

For some people, these details make it easier to settle into a conversation. For others, the biggest difference is simply having less to organise on a day when energy is already in short supply.

This can be particularly relevant for some neurodivergent people. Getting ready, travelling, managing changes in routine and navigating unfamiliar environments can all feel overwhelming.

If you’re already managing sensory demands, social expectations or the effort of keeping up with everything around you, attending from home may leave you with more space to focus on yourself. Online counselling can make it easier to access support in a way that feels comfortable for you.

Research with autistic adults has highlighted how remote appointments can reduce stress and make communication easier for some people (Ali et al., 2023). A study of therapist-guided online support for adults with ADHD also found improvements in ADHD symptoms and quality of life (Heltne et al., 2026).

Feeling understood and having support that fits your individual needs can make a real difference (Brede et al., 2022; Wilson et al., 2025).

Perhaps you find it easier to talk when you’re in a familiar space, with your favourite things nearby. You might prefer to look away while you’re thinking, move around a little, or adjust the lighting and sound to suit you. You may feel more comfortable knowing you can have a drink, take a moment to gather your thoughts or sit somewhere that helps you feel at ease.

Online counselling gives you more freedom to make these small choices and find what works for you. There’s no single way to feel comfortable in counselling, and your own preferences matter.

Can You Feel Connected Through a Screen?

It’s understandable to wonder whether talking to someone online will feel natural. You might worry about awkward silences, finding the right words or whether you’ll feel comfortable talking about personal things with someone you’re getting to know.

Sometimes a conversation flows easily. At other times, you might need a moment to think, find it hard to explain what you mean or not quite know where to begin. You don’t need to have everything worked out before a session, or know exactly what to say. Talking things through can help you find the words as you go along.

Research has found that people can develop trusting therapeutic relationships through video sessions, with ratings of these relationships comparable to those in face-to-face therapy (Seuling et al., 2024).

As we get to know each other, you can let me know how you’re finding the sessions and whether there’s anything that would help you feel more comfortable. We can talk about what works for you and make adjustments along the way.

Online counselling can become a comfortable and meaningful way to talk things through, even if it feels unfamiliar at first. You can take your time getting used to it and discovering whether it feels right for you.

Making Space for Yourself

Life has a way of filling up all the available space. There are messages to answer, people to think about, things to organise and responsibilities that don’t always wait until you have the energy for them.

Perhaps you’re the person others turn to when they need help. Perhaps you’re used to saying yes, keeping the peace or carrying on even when you’re already stretched thin.

You might seem to be coping well on the outside, keeping things going and being who others need you to be, while inside you’re wondering why it all feels so hard and whether anyone really sees you for who you are.

It can be hard to know what you need when you’re accustomed to concentrating on everything and everyone else.

Counselling gives you time to turn your attention towards yourself. You can talk about what’s been weighing on you, explore feelings you haven’t had much opportunity to acknowledge and begin to understand your experiences in a different way.

You don’t have to arrive at every session with something important to report or a problem to solve. Sometimes, simply having space to talk and reflect can help you notice things that are difficult to see when you’re in the middle of everyday life.

Online counselling can make it easier to protect that time for yourself, without having to fit a journey around everything else.

Taking the First Step

Perhaps you’ve been thinking about counselling for a while. Perhaps you’re still weighing it up, wondering whether it might help or what it would feel like to talk to someone about things that matter to you.

Online counselling offers a flexible way to make space for yourself, explore what’s on your mind and begin to make sense of how you’re feeling, from somewhere you’re comfortable.

If you’d like to explore this together, you’re welcome to get in touch.

References

Katrin Kemmerzehl
I’m a qualified counsellor based in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Please get in touch if you’d like to arrange a consultation.

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