Online therapy has become just as natural as in-person therapy, and for many people it feels more comfortable and convenient. While some people worry that online therapy is less private than in-person sessions, most therapists and counselors who offer this service work with HIPAA-compliant platforms. This means that the information you share with your therapist will remain private, except in certain situations. Additionally, most therapists will discuss their privacy policy with you during your first consultation session. Your insurance may allow you to talk to a licensed professional who does online therapy. If you’re uninsured, most communities have free or low-cost mental health clinics.
However, she advises that there is a growing need for more research in this field. Because the virtual therapy boom is such a recent phenomenon, there’s still a lot of questions. “As clinicians, we need to come together, collect data and figure out new ways to measure progress and outcomes” Dr. Natneil states. The author suggests that the online therapist and client also prepare themselves for a mentality that limits outside distractions since the “space” for therapy is different from face-to-face. Check out our list of DIY mental health tools and platforms that help you support your mental health by connecting with others. You can quickly check here if our therapy is available in your area.
Develop your online services to meet client needs
Learn practical skills to cope with difficult emotions, improve interpersonal skills and live a better, happier life. You were born with unique, powerful potential and the capacity to grow. Counseling can facilitate huge changes in your lifestyle and wellness journey. Knowing yourself, it’s also important to choose an environment that works best for you. Remember to be gentle with yourself and your ability to provide self-care. Your session may last between minutes depending on your appointment, and will be designed with you in mind. Then, your therapist may want to get to know you as well, asking you about your friends, your hobbies, what you love to do, and what brings you to counseling.
High-quality, relevant content is crucial for both attracting potential clients and improving your website’s search engine rankings. A well-designed website is the foundation of a strong online presence for your therapy practice. This online therapy may be a one-to-one, group, or self-help service. If a person has medical insurance through their own or a family member’s employer, they may also have an additional benefit for mental health and wellness services. These few sessions may provide a person with enough insight to help them determine their next steps. Attending free sessions may help someone decide whether therapy is the right choice for them.
When Mascardo became a “digital nomad” psychologist in 2018, “it felt like the wild West,” she remembers, noting that very few psychologists had online-only practices. Therese Mascardo, PsyD, used to spend four hours a day commuting between her Los Angeles home and the Orange County office of her practice Exploring Therapy.
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Taking some time to reset after the session can also be helpful as you transition back into regular tasks you have planned for the day. The most common way to obtain teletherapy is via videoconferencing or video chat with a therapist. However, therapists may also provide services by phone or through email.
A ring light can eliminate shadows and help clients see your face more clearly. There are also clamps that hold your phone or tablet up so you can maintain good eye contact with patients.
Clients who benefit the most from online counseling take the time to prepare themselves and their environment, ensuring that the treatment method does not interfere with the therapy itself. However, you should know that free services do not provide the same level of personalized care as regular therapy appointments with a therapist you see consistently.
One of the benefits of online group therapy is allowing anonymity, which is essential for people opening up. This is achieved as patients can join a support group using a pseudonym and then hide their faces. As you think about navigating online therapy as a client, here is a link with some really helpful information about how to set up your space and your computer or device. Many of my Instagram followers are therapists who want to start their own business, so I launched an online course and additional coaching products to help them. The course comes in three tiers, which focus on specific aspects of running a virtual business. That way, I’m able to connect with people at all stages of their business-launching journey. As more companies and start-ups enter the wearables space, we’ll likely see the function of them evolve from tools to track activity, heart rate or sleep to more personal, two-way interactions.
