Below is a copy of an interview with Skype
Buck Black: Therapy on the Road
Visits with doctors and therapists can be difficult to schedule for any professional. But it is especially challenging for truck drivers, who are constantly on the road. Now, thanks to the help of Skype video calling, Buck Black, a licensed Clinical Social Worker in Lafayette, Indiana, is able to deliver the therapy truckers need while traveling from state to state.
About a year and half ago, Buck noticed there was a demand for his services, which include counseling on issues such as anxiety, depression, anger management and relationship difficulties, among the truck driving community. To ensure his new client base had regular access to his services he turned to Skype for face-to-face coaching, while his patients were conducting hauls.
Now, with just a webcam and an Internet connection at Wifi- enabled truck stops, Buck and his client can meet face-to-face on a weekly or more frequent basis. The coaching sessions via Skype video call are extremely beneficial to the client. Buck finds that seeing the client?s body language is particularly helpful in therapy. Skype has also enabled him to have online conversations or free Skype-to-Skype calling with those who are uncomfortable with video chatting. He feels that not only does Skype help him connect with clients, but the voice quality is better than a phone.
Skype has had a significant impact on Buck's business. As of now, he generally performs thirty therapy sessions a week, of which five are consultations over Skype. Buck also estimates that Skype has helped him expand his client base by twenty percent.
Although many of his clients are truckers, Black has also used Skype video chatting with nearby college students (who come into his office) and their parents (who join remotely via Skype video call). He has even coached someone overseas.
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