How to Get Set Up For an Online Therapy Session
With all that's going on right now there's been a huge shift towards telehealth and online therapy. This post is a guide for you to get your space and your tech ready for an online therapy (telehealth) session.
You may have heard other names for online therapy like, distance therapy or e-therapy. Telehealth involves delivering therapy by using electronic technology, that can include a number of things but here we are focusing on real-time interactive video
You are already familiar with using apps like Skype, FaceTime, or Google meet.
For telehealth we're usually talking about using more secure versions of these kinds of software, and others like Zoom, Doxey.me, or VSee, to name a few. You might have even used a direct link through your health care provider’s client portal system to start a secure video session.
Right now more than ever there are more people using online therapy and telehealth to either continue their therapy or get started for the first time.
Advantages of online therapy
If you're on the fence about this whole telehealth thing, these are some advantages of using telehealth:
Access - depending on where you live, weather conditions, or other reasons that make it difficult for you to get to a specialist, telehealth allows you to see a professional that you might not otherwise be able to see.
Saves time - you don’t waste time traveling to and from an office, meaning you don’t have to take as much time off from work (if any at all), and it can make arranging child care easier
Disinhibition - you may experience even more sense of safety and privacy by not going to someone's office, or you may feel more open to expressing yourself in the privacy of your home.
Cons of online therapy
Those were some perks, but what about the drawbacks?
For some people doing work online is just not the same as being in person. You might feel a little bit more distant until you get used to it.
Technology glitches - sometimes technology fails and you can be disconnected during a session. You might lose some nonverbal communication when the video freezes.
Ask questions and share any concerns you have about the privacy and security of the technology being used.
Your Space
You want to make sure you have a private, confidential space that is comfortable.
A session can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Make sure that you will be comfortable for the amount of time you have planned.
Creating a private space for online therapy is different than going to an office. In an office setting, the therapist is responsible for creating a private and confidential space. With online therapy, both the therapist and the client are responsible for taking steps to ensure privacy.
It’s important that you tell your therapist if you're at your home or if you're at another location. In the event that there is an emergency, your therapist needs to take action to send help to you at the correct location.
Here are some things for you to consider for creating a private space:
Can you lock the door? If you can’t lock the door, will others respect your privacy and stay out of the room? (This includes the tiny humans, they sometimes wander into the session. That’s okay, but it may be helpful to have another caregiver around to prevent this.)
Can others outside the space hear your conversation? A fan placed outside the door can create white noise, or you can use a white noise app or other background noise.
Use headphones or earbuds so only you can hear your therapist.
Some space ideas:
Bedroom or other room with a door
Laundry Room
Your car, parked in a safe space.
Your Tech
You probably already have the equipment you need to be able to do telehealth and online therapy. If you can run Netflix or Hulu, or any other streaming video service, you should be able to run an online session.
Depending on the platform that your therapist is using, you can use a computer or laptop (these are ideal), tablet, or even your cell phone. It's really that easy.
You need internet access, or you can use your cellular data if you have an unlimited data plan. Make sure your connection is strong.
Prop the device so that it is stable and that the camera level with your eyes. You can use a desk, table, or even an ironing board. You can use books to adjust the height of your device. You can get really creative with this part.
Lighting is important. Make sure that your face is well lit. Don’t use a bright light source directly behind you, this will create a shadow on your face and make it difficult to see you. Adjust the lighting so the light is shining towards or on your face, but not blinding you.
To improve the quality of your call and avoid slowing down your connection:
Close any programs or apps that you don’t need running on your internet connection. Turn off any programs that are connected for syncing (like google drive or one drive on your computer or laptop)
Extra devices connected to your internet should be switched to airplane mode.
Stop any streaming that might be going on in other parts of the home (i.e. Netflix, Hulu, online gaming).
Parents with babies and young children
I welcome babies in arms as long as you feel like you can focus enough in session to get the full benefit.
If you're lactating or nursing, you're free to continue with nursing or pumping during sessions as you feel comfortable. You can adjust the camera to give yourself some privacy. You can also try scheduling your sessions around your feeding and pumping schedule if you prefer.
Once babies become more mobile, I encourage you to get someone who can be more hands-on to take over caregiving. This is something I talk with my clients and their partners about. This is a great opportunity for your partner support you in getting your self-care by taking over caregiving and getting some much needed one-on-one time with the little ones for bonding and play.
Couples & Family Sessions
For couples sessions, you can find a comfortable spot on the couch and use a table or ironing board to position your equipment so that you can see my face and I can see you both.
Another option for couples and family sessions, is for you and your partner or family member to log into the video session on separate devices. With this set-up we would have a box displayed for each person. This is a good option for couples or family members who are physically located in different spaces.
If you have mobile babies or older children it is ideal for you to arrange a caregiver that you trust to help during the session, so you can focus on taking care of your relationship.
Schedule a free consultation today. I look forward to connecting with you online.