Preparing for Your Online Counselling Session
Virtual counselling — effective, secure, and designed to fit your life.
At Bach Counselling Group, our virtual counselling sessions are clinically effective, fully secure, and deliver the same quality of care as an in-person appointment. Whether you are at home, between commitments, or simply prefer the ease of connecting from a private space, online counselling is a fully supported option at BCG.
Research consistently shows that virtual therapy is as effective as in-person counselling for anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, and many other concerns. Many of our clients find that the comfort and privacy of their own environment supports more open, productive sessions.
How to Prepare for Your Session
A few minutes of preparation makes a meaningful difference to the quality and privacy of your experience. Please take time to get set up before your appointment begins.
Your Device and Connection
- Confirm your internet connection is stable before your session begins.
- Ensure your device is fully charged or plugged in.
- Always use headphones or earbuds. This is required given eadphones significantly improve sound quality and are essential for protecting your privacy. Those nearby should not be able to hear your session.
- Close all other applications and browser tabs to minimise interruptions and protect your bandwidth.
- If you are using an iPhone, enable Do Not Disturb before your session starts.
- If you have voice-activated devices in your home (Alexa, Google Home, Siri), unplug or disable them for the duration of your session. These devices can inadvertently record conversations.
Your Space and Privacy
- Choose a quiet, private space where you will not be interrupted for the full duration of your session. Your home, your parked car, or a private outdoor space all work well.
- Let others in your home know you are unavailable and ask them not to enter your space during your session.
- Close the door to the room you are in wherever possible.
- Have water or tea and tissues nearby for your comfort.
Joining Your Session
- You will receive a secure email link before your appointment. Click it to enter your session directly —no downloads or accounts are required.
- We recommend clicking the link a few minutes early to confirm everything is working before your session begins.
- If anything feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable about the online format, please let your counsellor know. We will support you through it.
How to Prepare for Your Session
Confidentiality is a cornerstone of our practice. Virtual counselling introduces considerations that are important for you to understand.
PIPEDA Compliance: Bach Counselling Group uses platforms that adhere to Canadian law — specifically the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). Your session takes place on a secure, encrypted platform.
Your IP address: Please be aware that your personal IP address could be stored by the platform. This is standard for all video platforms operating under PIPEDA.
Your responsibility for privacy: The nature of virtual counselling means that you are responsible for arranging and maintaining privacy at your end. BCG cannot control your physical environment. By participating in virtual counselling and signing BCG’s intake form, you agree to take responsibility for your own privacy during sessions.
Limits to confidentiality: As with all counselling at BCG, confidentiality has limits. Your counsellor will review these with you at the start of your first session.
If you have any concerns about privacy or confidentiality in the virtual format, please raise them with your counsellor or our client care team before your session.
Questions Before Your Session?
Our client care team is here to help with any questions about your appointment or the virtual counselling process.
- info@bachcounselling.com
- 604-904-0898
- Phone hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
- bachcounselling.com
You’re welcome to complete the intake form and bring it to your first meeting.
Regular appointments are 50 minutes long. As your appointment time is held specifically for you, we require 48 hours notice to cancel so we have time to give your spot to another client. Otherwise the regular fee will apply.
Counselling is an opportunity for you to focus on yourself. Congratulations on taking this step to improving your life. We look forward to working with you!
