What Is Telephone Counseling?

Telephone counseling (telephone counseling): refers to the way the two parties conduct conversations and psychological counseling through the phone. Due to their timeliness and anonymity, they are widely used.

Chinese name: Telephone consultation

Applied discipline: psychology

Origin of telephone consultation

Telephone consultation (telephone ...) is a form of consultation that uses telephones to give visitors advice and comfort. It has special value in preventing tragedies such as suicide and crime caused by psychological crises.

The first such institution was created in Britain in 1953 and was named "Samaritans". In 1960, the Suicide Prevention Center in Los Angeles, United States began telephone consultation. Germany's "Call for Help", France's "Friendship 505", the Soviet Union's "Life Telephone Consultation Office", Japan's "Life Telephone" and so on are similar telephone consultation agencies. Psychological counselors are waiting around the phone to help visitors through the crisis at any time, and if necessary, they can rush to their location to help them. Some people call this kind of telephone consultation "the line of hope" and the "lifeline".

The advantage of this method is that the consultation is fast and timely, regardless of day and night, regardless of distance. At the critical moment of mental collapse, the support of psychological soil can indeed play a role in turning the world around. Of course, telephone consultation is not limited to psychological crisis. Various psychological problems can be solved through telephone consultation.

Telephone consultation

Telephone consultation relief assistance

Phones can be used to the fullest, no matter when, where, and by whom. As long as people in psychological crisis need psychological assistance, as long as they call the consultation phone, they may get psychological enlightenment and comfort, so as to obtain a certain degree of care and warmth.

Talk to a good listener by phone listen, accompany, and empathize

Telephone inquiries are good listeners for help, sorrow, pain, and sadness. Telephone consultants have the same characteristics of listening, companionship, and empathy as face-to-face consultations.

Information services by telephone

Some questions raised by help seekers may not be fully resolved by telephone consultation. Therefore, another role of telephone consultation is to provide helpers with information and information on problem solving, such as persuading helpers to go to a consulting agency that can help. ^[1]

Telephone consultation features

Timeliness, timeliness and convenience of telephone consultation

By telephone, visitors can get immediate psychological support and professional help when their mood is lowest and they need help most. Many foreign consultation telephones are available 24 hours a day, which can ensure that psychological assistance is provided to visitors in a crisis state in a timely manner.

Telephone consultation anonymity

A very important feature of telephone consultation is that the two parties do not need to meet each other. On the one hand, the consultation relationship between the two parties can be ended at any time. Only the helper feels that he cannot get help or the person who answers the call feels that the other party is not "tasteful", and can directly hang up.

On the other hand, through anonymity, helpers can reveal their inner world without reservation, and say their true ideas to the greatest extent.

Telephone consultation one-time

In telephone consultation, the consultation relationship between the consultant and the helper may be one time, because the consultant who answers the call is not fixed, and it is difficult or impossible for the helper who comes to the phone to consult the same person in time.

Telephone consultation fantasy increase effect

The telephone not only eliminates the spatial distance with the other party, but also reduces the distance between the two parties hearts and minds. The conversation through the phone directly enters the ears from the mouth. Generates positive affective transfers. This kind of person who thinks that his life is completely out of control will have a sufficient sense of security. ^[1]

Telephone consultation method

The importance of telephone consultation language

Due to the lack of visual influence of telephone consultation, this requires the consultant to be more expressive through language with an attitude of acceptance, empathy and understanding.

Clarification of the role of telephone consultation consultants and limits

The purpose of treatment may not be achieved by telephone consultation, but it can achieve the purpose of temporary prevention and education. And for certain problems, you can provide appropriate information or some knowledge, and if necessary, introduce helpers for psychological counseling.

Mastery of telephone consultation time

Telephone consultation may be unisex. Generally, the time is controlled within 30 minutes. If the conversation has not ended within 30 minutes, it can be considered that the consultant has a problem in coping.

Telephone consultation process

Early telephone conversation

Generally, the phone rings 3-4 times and is being answered. After the call is connected, first of all, listen to the helper's report carefully, and form a general background of the consultation question in your head. Give confirmation when the helper does not understand or needs to ask.

Telephone consultation mid-term

The consultant and the helper have a common understanding of a certain problem. The consultant needs to consider the problem together with the help, or the consultant gives encouragement to the helper to find the solution to the problem.

End of telephone consultation dialogue

The questions of the helpers were sorted out through dialogue. When they knew what to do, it was nearing the end. It was not necessary to draw conclusions to avoid ambiguity with the helpers and cause the old things to be brought up again. ^[1]