5 Tips for Effective Online Therapy
Online therapy - or teletherapy - is a useful tool that will allows clients to begin or continue the therapeutic process with their current therapist from the comfort of their own home. While teletherapy has been gaining traction over the last few years, it is a brand new offering for our clients at Roubicek & Thacker Counseling.
Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your first teletherapy session:
1. Ask Questions
Asking questions will be the best way to get more comfortable with this new process. Don’t be afraid to ask your therapist questions before, during, and after the session.
2. Ensure a Good Connection
Prior to each teletherapy session, make sure you’ve reviewed the steps for joining the session and tested your internet and/or cell service. The last thing you want is to be ready to go, but unable to access the online system, or have your connection drop in the middle of an important moment.
3. Prepare a Distraction-Free Environment
Find a quiet, private, distraction-free location for your session. It is important that this is somewhere you will not be disturbed and where others cannot hear the session. This may be in another room, out in the garage, or even in your car down the block. With the whole family at home, it can be difficult to carve out some time that is just for you. But, it is absolutely vital to the process that your therapy sessions are private and distraction-free.
4. Pretend You Are Coming to our Office
Do you normally bring a pen and paper with you? Do you often use the tissues provided in our office? Are there any other items you bring, or rituals you perform prior to walking into a therapy session? If so, take a few minutes to prepare for your teletherapy session as if you were actually coming to see us in person. Afterward, you may be used to having the drive home to continue processing. Remember to carve out that time for yourself as well.
5. Let Your Therapist Know How You Feel
We know that adjusting from in-person to online therapy can be difficult. But, we also want to continue to provide as much support as we can during this stressful time. Even if you’ve never felt camera shy on FaceTime, connecting with your therapist online can be daunting.If you have concerns or insecurities about teletherapy, voice them with your therapist. We will do our best to help you through the adjustment phase. Try to be patient, too. After a few teletherapy sessions, you may find that the frustration, awkwardness, or discomfort goes away.
Our top priority is ensuring that you feel supported and have someone to talk to during times of stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. We look forward to seeing you in an online therapy session.