Congratulations on completing Module 8 on Home Visits! You now understand the usefulness, scope and conditions for home visits in counselling.

In this module you will learn why and how to use the telephone during counselling sessions.

Telephone Counselling

Not all patients have a personal phone, but if they do, it is important to get permission to call him/her in your first session itself.

Watch the video lectures in the activities section below to learn how the telephone can be used in counselling, the advantages and disadvantages, and how to conduct a session on the telephone.

SUMMARY

• Prepare yourself for the counselling session with a checklist of things you will need before the patient arrives
• Greet the patient warmly and introduce yourself
• Tell the patient that confidentiality will be maintained
• Discuss the options of home sessions, clinic sessions and telephone sessions and identify the most convenient one
• Follow the guidelines suggested for home visits
• The telephone can help check in with patients between sessions and after treatment ends, to remind patients of appointments and conduct sessions