All By Myself

Posted by: Dawn Schell on October 13, 2011 12:02 pm

There are times when I revel in working on my own in my online private practice.  I like being able to choose the work I do, set my own schedule, and work at my own pace [to name a few of the advantages]. 

Then there are the times when it feels lonely.  It’s just me and my computer and occasionally my cat for company. Sometimes I would like to debrief a session, find out about resources, ask for suggestions on ways to proceed with a client, or simply connect in person. Taking a moment to talk with a colleague can be a way to clear my head and refocus my attention and energy.

Don’t get me wrong.  I have colleagues in the online counselling world– amazing, experienced, gifted, supportive colleagues – with whom I feel deeply connected.  Sometimes I just wish I could walk down the hall to talk with them or have coffee/lunch together while sharing information, resources, and maybe even the story of our lives [which, considering they are scattered across Canada, would be a long road trip!].

Here are some of the things I do to counterbalance the solitary nature of my work. 

First, I stay as connected as possible to my online counselling colleagues via email.  We have e-staff meetings and coffee breaks, engage in discussions about relevant issues and share resources.

I am a member of the Online Counselling LinkedIn group [amongst others].  I follow the discussions with interest and have the sense of being part of a much larger community.

And when I find myself talking to my cat just to hear a human voice– I make sure I get out of my office and spend time in person with colleagues in my geographic community. 

It’s all about knowing when I need to connect in person.  And that is part of my recipe for contentedness (see Victoria Lorent-Faibish’s post of Sept. 27/11). 

The opinions expressed in this blogpost are personal. 

Dawn Schell, MA, CCC is an affiliate of Worldwide Therapy Online Inc.

http://www.therapyonline.ca




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

0 comments on “All By Myself”

  1. The post is actually the freshest on this laudable subject. I harmonize with your conclusions and will thirstily look forward to see your approaching updates.

  2. Nicole says:

    Dawn,
    I can understand the difficulty of staying in touch with other counsellors and the need for human interactions. In considering the obstacles of networking, CCPA has launched a forum where members can easily communicate with one other, ask questions and share ideas. Although nothing can beat a face-to-face conversation, we’re doing our best to connect counsellors with one another. The forum can be accessed at http://ccpa.scottbuckingham.ca/phpbb3.

    Thank you!
    Nicole Maurice
    CCPA Office Manager

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