Skype Group Therapy for Gay Couples
Couples joining Group Therapy through Skype.
Skype Group Calling Screen © Skype
You and your partner might like to join a group of gay & lesbian couples through Skype. Such therapy groups are exclusively for LGBT couples … LGBT individuals may not join a couple group (although situations where a couple later separates will be managed on a case-by-case basis decided buy the group).
Skype “Group Video” Chat supports a theoretical limit of up to 10 simultaneous video connections – however there is a practical limit of 5 maximum connections since Microsoft amended how the service works (it’s controlled by the power of the therapist’s computer & broadband connection). This suggests:-
- Groups with up to 4 couples (8 people) each sharing a single connection (i.e. 2 people to a camera) plus the group therapist.
- Groups with a combination of some couples sharing one connection and some couples using 2 connections (eg the couple are a long-distance relationship in different towns).
Some guidelines about Group Therapy for Gay Couples.
- Groups can be closed (i.e. the group does not allow new members to join once it has begun) or open (the group allows new members to join). This is decided by the group and the therapist together.
- Groups can be of a set period (i.e. a number of sessions) or open-ended (the group continues with no end).
- Joining a group will require an initial meeting with the group therapist.
- For an existing group, the group therapist will consider the new couple and how the group may respond to the new couple, before discussing with the group about a new couple joining.
- For a new group, the group therapist will consider all new couples wishing to join the group, in order to pay attention for any unmanageable conflicts that the group may create. This is not to say the therapist is trying to create a problem-free group – conflict in groups can be where the therapy-work is achieved – but the therapist is ethically-bound not to deliberately place couples in therapeutic jeopardy.
- Groups can be homogeneous or heterogeneous (eg only lesbian couples, or couples with mixed sexual identities etc), international, one-country-only, single-language or multiple-language. The group therapist – who takes responsibility for initiating a group will initially decide how the group is to be formed, until the group itself decides to maintain or change the nature of the group.
- The therapist funds the Skype “group video call” service.
- The group starts at an agreed time, and ends at an agreed time (usually 90 minutes weekly).
- The group will decide what the group wants to happen should one or more couples do not attend on time.
- The group will decide what will happen if a couple cannot join the session with both partners (eg one partner is away). Eg what does the group consider a “couple” to be, if there is one person in that relationship available to join a group session.
Does Skype permit Counselling / Therapy?
Skype does not prohibit counselling and therapy via its communication service. From the Terms of Service (http://www.skype.com/intl/en-us/legal/terms/tou/) - extracted August, 2012 - (red highlighting added) :-5.7 Content of Communications: Skype is not the source of, does not verify or endorse and takes no responsibility for the content of communications made using the Software. By using the Software, you agree that any content that you submit may be transmitted to the recipient of your communication. The content of communications is entirely the responsibility of the person from whom such content originated. You therefore may be exposed to content that is offensive, unlawful, harmful to minors, obscene, indecent or otherwise objectionable. The content of communications may be protected by intellectual property rights, which are owned by third parties. You are responsible for the content you choose to communicate and access using the Software. In particular, you are responsible for ensuring that you do not submit material that is (i) copyrighted, protected by trade secret or otherwise subject to third party proprietary rights, including privacy and publicity rights, unless you are the owner of such rights or have permission from their rightful owner (ii) a falsehood or misrepresentation (iii) offensive, unlawful, harmful to minors, obscene, defamatory, libellous, threatening, pornographic, harassing, hateful, racially or ethnically offensive, or that encourages conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, gives rise to civil liability, violates any law, or is otherwise objectionable; (iv) an advertisement or solicitation of business; or (v) impersonating another person. Skype reserves the right (but shall have no obligation) to review content for the purpose of enforcing these Terms. Skype may in its sole discretion block, prevent delivery of or otherwise remove the content of communications as part of its effort to protect the Software, Products or its customers, or otherwise enforce these Terms. Further, Skype may in its sole discretion remove such content and/or terminate these Terms and your User Account if you use any content that is in breach of these Terms.
Make contact today to discuss joining a Skype Therapy Group for Gay Couples.
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