Practice Guidelines

Online Counselling & Therapy, NZ & Worldwide

Clear, simple guidance for working together online, wherever you are in the world.

Online counselling can be a meaningful and effective way to work together, especially if you live outside the Coromandel region or prefer the comfort of your own space. These guidelines help you understand how online sessions work and how to prepare for them.

Direct Enquiry

Platform

Encrypted & Secure Video

Availability

NZ & International

Language

English or German

Accessibility & Reach

Who Online Therapy Is For

Online sessions are suitable for:

People living anywhere in New Zealand
Clients overseas (Canada, UK, USA, Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria)
Those who prefer privacy and ease at home
People navigating mobility or health challenges
Clients who travel frequently for work or life
Individuals who feel more comfortable speaking in English or German online
"Online therapy is not my main focus, but it is available and often deeply meaningful for people who feel drawn to my way of working."Steffen Lindner
Clinical Experience

How Online Sessions Work

Sessions are held via a secure, encrypted video platform. You will receive a simple direct link before your appointment, with no complex software installation required. The clinical structure, pacing, and therapeutic depth are the same as in-person work at our Whitianga rooms.

What You Can Expect

A calm, steady presence

An unhurried space where you feel heard, understood, and grounded.

Clear communication

Direct, transparent, and empathetic dialogue tailored to your needs.

Relational connection

Therapy grounded in genuine human contact across the digital medium.

Activation when needed

The possibility of gentle challenge, insight, and practical activation.

Trauma-informed pacing

Carefully respecting your boundaries, nervous system, and comfort level.

Bilingual support

Seamless communication in either English or German throughout your work.

Practical Checklist

Preparing for Your Online Session

To make the most of your session and protect your therapeutic container, please:

Choose a private, quiet space where you won’t be overheard or interrupted
Use headphones if possible (ensures clearer sound, intimacy, and acoustic privacy)
Check your internet connection prior to our start time
Have your device charged or securely plugged in
Close other demanding apps or browser tabs to keep the call smooth
Keep a glass of water nearby for your comfort
Allow a few quiet minutes before the session starts to settle and arrive

Bilingual note: If you need to switch naturally between English and German at any point during the session, you are always welcome to do so.

Ethical Safeguards

Privacy & Confidentiality

Online sessions follow the exact same professional privacy and ethical standards as in-person therapy:

  • Your information is strictly confidential
  • Sessions are never recorded
  • No information is shared without your consent
  • Secure, end-to-end encrypted video tools used
  • Digital communication kept minimal and professional
Duty of care: If there is ever a serious risk of harm to yourself or someone else, I may need to act to ensure safety, and I will discuss this with you whenever possible.
Global Perspective

Cultural Sensitivity & Expats

My university studies in intercultural education and sociology, combined with my own lived experience of immigrating to New Zealand 17 years ago, bring deep attunement to:

• Cultural transitions• Identity shifts• Belonging & dislocation• Migration stress• Living between cultures• Cross-cultural ties
Online therapy can be especially supportive for people living overseas who want to work with someone who deeply understands both European and New Zealand cultural contexts.

Technical Issues

If the connection drops or the sound becomes unclear at any point during a session:

  • We will attempt to reconnect immediately
  • If needed, we seamlessly switch to audio-only
  • If an issue cannot be resolved, we reschedule at no cost

Your comfort, presence, and clarity matter far more than the technology.

Fees & Payment

Online sessions follow the exact same fee structure as in-person therapy, with sliding scale considerations available based on individual financial circumstances.

Full bank transfer details (for NZ residents) or international payment arrangements (for overseas clients) will be provided when you book.

Invoices and formal receipt records provided upon request.
Reassurance & Ease

If You Are New to Online Therapy

Many people are surprised by how natural, focused, and genuinely connected online sessions feel once the video begins. You do not need to be "good with technology." You only need a quiet space, a stable connection, and the willingness to show up.

Taking the Next Step

Requesting an Online Session

If you would like to request an online session, whether you are in New Zealand or overseas, you are warmly welcome to contact me directly.

Text or Call

022 085 3121

Direct Email

steffen.eof@gmail.com

Go to Contact Page
Online Sessions

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Sessions are held on a secure, encrypted video platform for clients anywhere in New Zealand and internationally, including Canada, the UK, the USA, Germany, France, Switzerland and Austria.