There is a worn out saying that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. I'm so glad that I am not a dog! It's is exciting to learn something new and valuable literally every day. This applies personally to the arena of family counseling. In the 25 years that I've been involved in pastoral counseling I've seen a lot trends and changes but none as drastic as over the last 5 years. In a rapidly changing society the family has had to adjust in many ways and one of them is how to approach counseling when the family needs it. A few years ago it was a relatively simple matter to get Dad into the car (I mention him first since men are the most resistant to counsel) then Mom and perhaps a kid or two and head off for the Doc's office. Not so today. With Mom most likely working outside the home now we have to factor in her work schedule. And as for the kids, need I tell you what their schedules look like? In the area I live in, not far from Orlando, Fl., it is not unusual to see people leaving for work at 6:30 AM and not returning home 12 hours later. To expect them to come and see me after work would be tantamount to asking Shaq to ride in the Kentucky Derby. As for me, I am not willing to take time from the family to work on weekends.
It seemed like a stalemate until a friend suggested….internet counseling. As I browsed the internet I found a few people that offered contacts over the web with follow up phone counseling. It didn't seem personal enough for me so I continued probing. Then voila, another friend suggested counseling via the internet using a free computer phone hook up coupled with a web camera. Not a new idea to the cyber world but definitely novel to me. I soon let the word out through emails that I was available as an internet counselor and within a few days had a couple from Pa. who was interested. It was comical at first getting used to this new way of communicating. At times we forgot that we were on camera and adopted some embarrassing facial expressions. We soon learned to watch both the large screen that the other party was on as well as our own monitor screen that captured our image. I encouraged the couple to just relax and enjoy the sessions and soon they met me weekly in their back yard with their computer, steamy cups of Starbucks and a box stuffed with Crispy Cremes. I could only watch and smile as they indulged….and relaxed. This was a scene that I had never experienced in the traditional counseling setting. And as far as the challenge of paying for the session? Paypal works for me!
I believe that we have turned the corner in meeting the counseling needs of today's super busy family. If you are one of those families who needs godly counsel but have been hampered by scheduling problems, internet counseling may be the answer for you.
