Important information about telephone or video conferencing services
Relationships Australia WA (RAWA) is now offering a choice of either face to face, telephone (phone) or video conference (video) services.
There are some differences in the experience of phone or video, from what is experienced in face to face sessions. This information is aimed at highlighting what to expect in a phone or video session and some things you may want to consider.
The most significant difference in phone or video conferencing services is that you and your practitioner can’t see each other. As humans, we are sensitive to visual cues in others to know whether or not we feel comfortable with them. Your practitioner will therefore be checking in every now and again with you for feedback on how the conversation during your session is going for you.
If you are using your mobile phone, please remember to have it fully charged, so that your session is not cut short.
For your safety, your practitioner won’t provide a telephone or video session while you are driving.
In order to get the maximum value from your session, it is best to have the time and place where you can focus on the time with your practitioner.
Confidentiality and your privacy
There is a greater challenge with phone and video services in maintaining privacy, not from the practitioner’s point of view but from your point of view. Therefore we ask you to ensure that you have a private place and time where you can be free from interruptions. This may involve challenges in regard to the presence of children and/or other adults.
We also ask that you have a place and a time when you are free from being overheard, so that you can feel secure in speaking to your practitioner as freely as you are comfortable with.
In order to preserve your privacy we require your agreement to NOT record your session. We cannot guarantee that any recording that you were to make would be safe from others accessing it.
Normally your practitioner will not be recording your session(s). If there was a good reason to do so, the practitioner would discuss this with you and would only proceed with the recording with your written permission.