Kathleen, I offer telephone consultations, but this is an option that seldom happens. Occasional interstate clients will opt for telephone, instead of Skype, and I have had local clients who have asked for telephone consults after the initial one. My process is to set a time and have them telephone me. The appointment is so that I can be prepared, as for any consultation, and not caught with my mind on some other intensive task. Having the mother telephone me is for the obvious reason of not wanting to be caught with telephone charges. During the telephone consultation I use a client record sheet, adapted from my regular one, and in addition take notes to keep me focused. One of the lines is for email contact details. Storage of client records is the same as for my other consultations. Telephone clients don't get a printed pen, which I normally give clients, but they receive relevant handout information by email. I charge less for a telephone consultation, but I may reconsider this. It is an advantage for me that I had previous experience as an ABA counsellor, including telephone and email counselling, and I've presented on telephone counselling at conferences. This experience isn't essential and some tips follow. Telephone consulting requires reiteration of questions and descriptions, so that the image in the mother's mind of what you are saying is the same as what you meant. Never be afraid to ask for clarification to be sure of what the mother means. Choose wording that helps build a visual picture. For instance, if asking about nipple damage, carefully define regions of the nipple, such as shaft, tip, base. The 0-10 pain scale, though not visual, is useful where it is relevant. Ask the mother to be your eyes if she has her baby at breast during the call, by asking, "Do you notice if...?" or "Tell me what you see your baby's jaw doing?" and other questions. The above information is about actual consultations by telephone. I also - like most of you - do telephone follow-ups, and some follow-ups are by text message or email, when the client chooses to contact me that way. I add notes from the text message to the client's record, before deleting. Booking calls are sometimes made by text - especially when I am out-of-town! Clients who have moved back overseas or to other distant places can - and do - have follow-ups by email, text or telephone. One of the texts for my graduate degree in counselling had a section on electronic counselling, and particularly the privacy issues of email, etc. Virginia Virginia Thorley, OAM, PhD, IBCLC, FILCA Lactation Consultant (original cohort of 1985). Cultural Historian of the History of Medicine. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Website: www.virginiathorley.com [log in to unmask] On Tuesday, October 08, 2013 4:36 AM, Kathleen Huggins wrote: > Hello! I am looking to find IBCLC's who have telephone practices. > > *********************************************** *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome