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With the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing, a lot of ministry is moving from physically present to online. Biblical counseling is no exception.<\/span><\/p>\n But can we really offer biblical counseling via video\u2014using online video conferencing systems like Skype or Zoom?<\/span><\/p>\n When you talk about counseling via video, you hear a lot of opinions. Some think it\u2019s unusual. Some thinks it\u2019s awkward. Some think it\u2019s necessary for now, but second-best. And some think it\u2019s downright wrong!<\/span><\/p>\n I think differently about video counseling\u2014because I\u2019ve been doing it for over five years. I love biblical counseling via video.<\/span><\/p>\n Whether or not you love it, at least for the short-term you\u2019re either going to adapt to it and adopt it, or you\u2019re going to suspend your biblical counseling ministry for the time being. And who knows how long that may be\u2026?<\/span><\/p>\n So, here are seven \u201ctips of the trade\u201d or \u201cbest practices\u201d about biblical counseling via video conferencing from my five+ years of providing counseling this way.<\/span><\/p>\n In the Bible and in church history, people practiced soul care from a distance. For more detail about this, see my recent blog post:<\/span> Practicing Spiritual Connecting While Social Distancing<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n In that post, I noted that the Apostle Paul ministered from a distance.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFor I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face\u201d (Colossians 2:1).<\/span><\/p>\n And what\u2019s the context for this ministry? It\u2019s biblical\u2014even nouthetic\u2014ministry. Paul is proclaiming Christ through teaching and admonition (noutheteo<\/em>) from a distance (Colossians 1:28-29). Paul provided nouthetic biblical counseling from a distance in the form of an epistle\u2014by writing.<\/span><\/p>\n So did Martin Luther. In<\/span> Practicing Spiritual Connecting While Social Distancing<\/em><\/a>, I noted that Luther penned over 3,000 letters of spiritual counsel.<\/span><\/p>\n Five years ago when I first thought about offering biblical counseling, ministry mentoring, and counseling supervision via video conferencing, I was a bit hesitant. I didn\u2019t want to do anything unbiblical. But when I saw the example of Paul in the Bible and of Luther in church history, I put my conscience at rest. You can, too.<\/span><\/p>\n We can use any number of means of communication to offer biblical counseling. Paul and Luther used letter writing. You could use email, or even text, or phone.<\/span><\/p>\n However, this post is focused on counseling via video<\/em>. For a couple of reasons, I much prefer video to only audio\u2014to just phone.<\/span><\/p>\n First, I believe that body language is important\u2014and you can\u2019t pick that up only via voice. I can detect \u201cmoods\u201d even more readily with video counseling than physically-present counseling. Why? Because I\u2019m definitely focused on looking at the person. Several times recently, from the moment the video call began, I knew the \u201cmindset,\u201d \u201cattitude,\u201d or \u201cmood\u201d of the person. I could read their facial expression, their body language. Two sessions were individual counseling, one was marital counseling, and another was family counseling. I could almost instantly discern how the couple or the family were getting along.<\/span><\/p>\n Second, in our \u201cmulti-tasking\u201d world, I find phone calls leave both the counselee and the counselor open to the temptation to focus their minds and actions elsewhere. Counseling, by nature, is a focused relational endeavor. I don\u2019t want my counselee scrolling their emails while they\u2019re talking to me. And I don\u2019t want to be putting away dishes while I\u2019m (supposed to be) talking to them.<\/span><\/p>\n Whether I\u2019m counseling with the person physically present, or counseling via video, almost 100% of the time I send a written follow-up. Sometimes that may be by text. Most times it\u2019s by email.<\/span><\/p>\n I often wait at least a day. I find that I do my best counseling<\/em> after and in-between meetings<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n I spend time reflecting on our recent meeting, I pray for the person. I ponder next steps. Then I email a summary, seeking to capture the most important aspects of our meeting. I ask questions for reflection. I encourage. I affirm. I share pertinent biblical passages and scriptural principles. I draw them out and seek to draw them in.<\/span><\/p>\n Almost 100% of the time, I receive at least one reply during the week. These interactive email exchanges often become the focus for our next meeting. They often result in collaboratively developed homework\u2014applied throughout the week.<\/span><\/p>\n Notice how I worded this header: \u201cphysically-present counseling.\u201d Sometimes we contrast video counseling with \u201cin-person\u201d counseling. But wait\u2014I am \u201cin-person\u201d with the person when I see and hear and talk and interact with them via video.<\/span><\/p>\n People often object, \u201cBut it has to be sooooo impersonal compared to \u2018in-person\u2019 counseling!\u201d Well\u2026try it. I cry with counselees on video. We laugh. We support. We comfort. We encourage. We \u201ccare-front.\u201d We challenge. We read Scripture. We pray. We\u2026relate. We\u2026counsel.<\/span><\/p>\n If Paul and Luther could provide rich, loving, involved soul care by letter, why do we think we can\u2019t provide rich, loving, involved soul care by video\u2014where we\u2019re seeing and hearing and relating together?<\/span><\/p>\n My \u201cmodel\u201d or \u201capproach\u201d to counseling does not change between video counseling and physically-present counseling. I\u2019ve used both methods with the same counselee, and they\u2019ll often note, \u201cOur time together in counseling was just the same whether we did video or we were both in your office.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut don\u2019t I need some special training?\u201d Well, if you\u2019re not very tech-savvy (and I am not), then you might need an hour or so to get used to whatever platform\/system you will use, load it, and figure it out. But they\u2019re really not very complicated.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut which system do I use?\u201d I hesitate to even name any because new additions are being added weekly. A few of the many current options include: Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Facetime, Vidyo, etc., etc., etc. Most all of these can be used either on your phone, computer, tablet, or smart TV.<\/span><\/p>\n And once you get used to a system, you can do a lot with it. On Zoom, for instance, you can share your screen which means you can share documents. You have a \u201cfavorite biblical counseling chart,\u201d share it. You want to summarize the theme of what you\u2019re hearing from your counselee; write it, draw it, share it on the screen.<\/span><\/p>\n In our 7th tip, we\u2019ll look at how to address potential \u201cdisadvantages\u201d of video counseling. But first, consider just a few of the potential advantages.<\/span><\/p>\n First, it is confidential. If you walk into \u201cPastor Bob\u2019s office,\u201d then people suspect that you\u2019re going for counseling. Some counselees don\u2019t mind this at all. Some, especially at first, are a little uncomfortable walking past strangers\u2014or friends\u2014into the counselor\u2019s office.<\/span><\/p>\n Second, it\u2019s convenient. No traffic. No 90 minutes on the road\u201445 minutes each way.<\/span><\/p>\n Third, it\u2019s cost effective. You save on gas and wear and tear on your vehicle. Plus, time is money.<\/span><\/p>\n Fourth, it addresses geographical constraints. I started ministry-by-video when missionaries in other countries requested that I mentor, supervise, or counsel them. These days I do a good deal of counseling with pastors and their families\u2014from around the country and the world. Who counsels the counselor? Who shepherds the shepherd? I can. You can\u2014via video counseling. Of course, I am always moving the person back into connection with the local body of Christ. But sometimes for a period of time it can be helpful for people in ministry to connect with a spiritual friend located outside their area.<\/span><\/p>\n Fifth, evidenced-based research is confirming positive outcomes from video counseling. While we never based our conclusion simply on descriptive research, it can be one helpful means of discerning best practices. I\u2019ve yet to see any studies directly related to biblical counseling via video, but I have seen at least half-a-dozen studies related to video-based secular counseling. Here\u2019s one example:<\/span> Outcomes of 98,609 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Patients Enrolled in Telemental Health Services, 2006\u20132010<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n I hear all sorts of reasons not<\/em> to provide counseling from a distance. This post has already addressed several of those\u2014such as the body language issue and the issue of the level of relational connection.<\/span><\/p>\n One additional objection I hear is, \u201cBut what about distractions when the person is in their home?\u201d Yep. Distractions come. But they also come in physically-present counseling. People walk past the office. The counselee is concerned about fighting traffic on the way home. The counselor is thinking about heading to the grocery store right after the session, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n Proactively address distractions. Encourage the counselee (and the counselor) to be in a private place in the house or workplace, shut off the phone, turn off the email reminders on the computer, etc.<\/span><\/p>\n Also, reactively address (and even use) distractions. Recently, a family member interrupted the counselee. I was able to observe the interaction. Let\u2019s just say that it was \u201cinstructive,\u201d \u201cillustrative,\u201d \u201cilluminating.\u201d God can use distractions.<\/span><\/p>\n Another objection I hear is, \u201cBut technology can be \u2018buggy,\u2019 calls drop, the video can fade in and out.\u201d Yep, it happens. But over the past five years I\u2019ve witnessed great improvement in video conferencing technology.<\/span><\/p>\n Proactively plan for the possibility of a dropped call. \u201cI\u2019ll call back if the video call drops.\u201d \u201cIf we can\u2019t reconnect, I\u2019ll email or call you and we\u2019ll work out a plan.\u201d Frankly, I have these sorts of interruptions very infrequently. Plus, I rarely ever have a counselee cancel a video appointment\u2014and there\u2019s no bigger distraction than a canceled appointment.<\/span><\/p>\n One more objection I hear is, \u201cBut what about any legal issues or ramifications?\u201d I\u2019m no lawyer\u2014that should be understood upfront.<\/span><\/p>\n My practice for video counseling is to keep in place all best practices I use for in-office counseling. Do you use a \u201cDisclosure Statement\u201d stating the nature of the care you are offering? Then use the same in video counseling. Do you explain and have people sign a confidentiality statement? Then have them e-sign that for video counseling. Do you counsel under the supervision and auspices of a local church? Then make plane that your video counseling\u2014whether done at your home or at your church\u2014is under the authority of your church. (Note:<\/em> I always offer counseling for free; always explain that I am not offering professional\/licensed therapy; and always indicate that I am providing biblical counseling through historic Christian soul care. If your counseling fits other parameters, than other legal issues could apply.)<\/span><\/p>\nTip #1: Relax; It\u2019s Biblical<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Tip #2: Use Video, Not Just Audio<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Tip #3: Follow-Up with Additional Means of Connection & Communication<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Tip #4: Just Do It; It\u2019s Really Just Like Physically-Present Counseling<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Tip #5: Try It; You\u2019ll Like It; It\u2019s Easy<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Tip #6: Enjoy It; Video Counseling Actually Has Some Advantages<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Tip #7: Addressing Potential Disadvantages<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Join the Conversation<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n