The short answer: for most people, yes. The longer answer is worth reading if you're trying to decide which format is right for you — because there are genuine differences, and being honest about them seems more useful than glossing over them.
What the research says
Research into online counselling has been building for years, and the picture is fairly consistent. Across a wide range of presentations — anxiety, depression, trauma, grief — online therapy produces outcomes comparable to in-person work. The therapeutic relationship, which is the single biggest predictor of whether counselling helps, can form just as strongly over video as it can in a room.
That's not nothing. The therapeutic relationship is the engine of the whole thing — the degree to which you feel genuinely heard and understood, the sense that you can bring difficult material into the room and it won't break anything. If that can happen on a screen, the question of format becomes less significant than it might initially appear.
The real differences
I don't want to pretend the formats are identical, because they're not.
Non-verbal communication is one area where online sessions do work differently. Reading someone through a camera is different from being in the same physical space. As a counsellor, I notice things slightly differently online — I might miss something in body language I'd catch in person, or see other things more clearly. I've adapted how I work to account for this, but it's worth naming.
The quality of your space matters more online than it does in person. Coming to my room in Anfield, the environment is controlled — it's quiet, private, and set up specifically for the work. Online, you need to create that yourself. A private room, somewhere you won't be interrupted, and ideally not doing it from a space associated with stress or distraction. Some people manage this easily. For others, it's a genuine constraint.
Connection issues are the unromantic reality of online work. Technical problems don't happen often, but when they do they can disrupt the flow of a session at exactly the wrong moment. It's a small risk, but an honest one.
Where online counselling tends to work especially well
Online tends to suit you if…
- You're outside Liverpool or prefer not to travel
- You have caring responsibilities that make leaving home difficult
- You find it easier to open up from your own environment
- Anxiety about new situations makes attending in person harder
- Your schedule means early morning or evening sessions work better
In-person might serve you better if…
- You find it hard to create a private, quiet space at home
- Travelling to sessions gives you useful transition time
- You'd value the separation of a dedicated physical space
- You've found online formats difficult in the past
- You simply prefer being in the same room as someone
"The most important thing isn't the format — it's finding a counsellor you trust and a way of working that means you'll actually attend. Everything else follows from that."
Something I notice in practice
Quite a few people who were initially uncertain about online counselling have surprised themselves by how quickly it settled into feeling normal. The oddness of the screen — that slight self-consciousness about talking to a rectangle — tends to fade within a session or two.
Others try it and find it genuinely doesn't work for them, and switch to in-person. That's fine too. The format should serve the work, not the other way around.
If you're undecided, I'd suggest letting practicality guide you. If getting to Anfield is easy and you have the time, try in-person. If logistics are the main obstacle, online is unlikely to be a meaningful compromise — it's likely to work well. The free 20-minute consultation I offer can be done either way, which gives you a chance to get a feel for what suits you before committing to anything.
Common questions about online counselling
Is online counselling as effective as face-to-face therapy?
For most people and most issues, yes. Research consistently shows that online counselling produces outcomes comparable to in-person therapy. The therapeutic relationship — the single biggest predictor of whether counselling works — can form just as strongly over video.
What do I need for online counselling?
A private space where you will not be interrupted, a reliable internet connection, and a device with a camera and microphone. Headphones can help with both privacy and sound quality. That's genuinely all you need.
Can I do online counselling from anywhere in the UK?
Yes. I offer online sessions to anyone in the UK. Sessions are conducted via secure video and are just as confidential as in-person work.
Is online counselling secure and confidential?
Yes. I use a secure, encrypted video platform. As with in-person sessions, everything discussed is confidential — the same ethical and legal standards apply regardless of format.
You can read more on my online counselling page, or book a free introductory conversation below — in person or online, whichever works best for you.