Speaking into a webcam can be daunting for some people. My experience is that over time you will get used to it, and possibly even prefer it, since there is no commute time and in most cases you can enjoy the comfort of your own home. However, it is not for everyone – an initial consultation is advisable to try it out first.
- Ensure you have adequate broadband speed to allow for a 50-minute video call.
- Find a quiet place where you can have as much privacy as possible. This could be a challenge if you share your home with others, so make sure to agree with them that you will not be disturbed. Along those lines, you may wish to use headphones for privacy, and also better sound quality.
- Be sure to close programs that slow down your computer, and turn off notifications that could be distracting.
- Have your screen on a stable surface, and make sure your room is well-lit and your face is clearly visible in the camera.
- Try not to do anything you wouldn’t normally do in a face-to-face session, such as eat, drink alcohol, or play music. This will dilute the experience for you and make it more difficult for both of us to work in a clear-headed way.
- If Zoom fails us during the session, please phone me on my mobile on 07800-570-602 (standard UK mobile charges apply) so that we can arrange for an alternative.
- If you can, try to give yourself some padding time before and after sessions. This would naturally be built-in to in-person sessions due to the commute. I suggest at least ten minutes at the start to set up your software and environment, and ten minutes at the end to process what has been said before getting on with the rest of your day/evening.
Daša Radovanović, MA, MBACP 