I am sure Metmom is simply speaking from her age and experience, as years ago the screen was the norm, and i myself, who prayerfully left Rome in about 1983, cannot recall ever having a face to face confession (and i did go weekly in my childhood and often before i left after becoming manifestly born again by the grace of God.)
In some Catholic parishes, face-to-face is only by appointment. Canon law requires that a confessional is to be available and that the penitent always has the right to an anonymous confession. ( Canon 964, §2 )
Of course, while the Scriptures support the principle and practice of intercessory prayer in obtaining mercy for souls, that being primarily a function of the elders of the church but not restricted to them, (Ja, 5:13-20) and of discipline in binding a man in his sins over to judgment, (1Cor. 5) it knows nothing of a separate class of clergy titled "priests" ("hiereus") which the Holy Spirit never calls NT pastors who are elders/overseers as one office (do not try to argue it comes from presbuteros, as it does not , except by way of unique imposed functional equivalence), under the premise that they engage in a unique sacrificial function.
And such are in need of redemption themselves if they believe the act of baptism and postmortem suffering in purgatory will gain them the holiness needed to see God.
Agreed that it was not commonplace yet neither was it rare.
First time it happened to me I was serving Mass at 6:30am on a weekday.
Before Mass the priest asked both of us altar boys if we were going to communion - I muttered that I had to go to confession first. He said “no problem” put his arm on my shoulder and said you can do it right here.
Needless to say I had never heard of face to face confession either, but I know now.
AMDG