How online counselling works across time zones

Not everyone who wants counselling can easily get to a counsellor’s office. You might live in another city or another country, with family spread across several continents. Your work hours or childcare might make travelling to appointments difficult.

Marriage Matters International offers virtual sessions wherever you live, across time zones. Here is how that works in practice, and how to get the most from it.

How virtual sessions work

Virtual sessions take place online, so you join from wherever you are and talk with your counsellor much as you would face to face. A standard session lasts one hour, the same as an in-person appointment.

Bose Fawehinmi, our Lead Counsellor, and Oluwadara Osewa, our Relationship Counselling Associate, both offer virtual sessions. If you are in or near Lagos and would rather meet in person, Grace Owotoki, our Family Life Therapist, offers in-person sessions there.

If you are not used to talking online, do not let that put you off. You do not need to be good with technology to take part, and some people find that speaking from their own space feels more natural than they expected once they get started.

Finding a time that works

Time zones are one of the most practical questions for clients in other countries. Lagos keeps the same time all year, while most of Canada moves its clocks forward in spring and back in autumn. That means the gap between Lagos and Canada shifts by an hour twice a year.

A morning in Toronto is already afternoon in Lagos, and an evening in Vancouver is the early hours of the next day in Lagos. When you book, be clear about which time zone you are in, and double-check the time in your own calendar. When you first get in touch, mention where you are based so you can talk about which times are realistic. If your working hours change from week to week, say that too.

Setting up your space

A few small preparations can make a virtual session feel calmer and more private.

• Choose a room where you will not be overheard by children, relatives or housemates.
• Use headphones if you share your home with others.
• Check your internet connection and charge your device beforehand.
• Keep water and tissues nearby, and silence other notifications.

If privacy at home is hard to find, some people take sessions from a parked car, a quiet office after hours or a friend’s spare room. What matters is that you can speak freely. Try to log on a few minutes early, so any technical hitches do not eat into your hour.

The screen matters far less than whether you feel safe enough to speak honestly.

When you are in different places

Some couples are living apart for a season, perhaps in different countries, or in different cities for work. If that is your situation, mention it when you get in touch, and ask how a joint session could work for you before you book. If a joint session is hard to arrange at first, individual support is also available while you work out the practical side.

Booking and practical details

Booking works the same way whether you are in Lagos or Winnipeg. Availability is confirmed first, and then payment instructions are sent. If you would like to plan ahead, five-session packages are available at a saving.

Counselling is not an emergency service. If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call the local emergency number wherever you are.

Getting started

If distance or time differences have kept you from getting support, they may be easier to work around than you think. A free 30-minute clarity call is a good way to ask your questions and find a time that suits you.