Tips for Successful Online Therapy
The explosion of online therapy has done wonders for accessibility of needed support. You can do it where and when it's most convenient for you. Researchers looked at more than 60 studies and found that seeing a therapist virtually is just as effective as face-to-face sessions for most people. With that said, there are some things to consider to make sure that online therapy is the right match for you.
You should be in a private and quiet space for every session. If you are concerned that someone may hear you and that you can't speak freely, then the work we do together will be limited by not having those thoughts or feelings to discuss. There are lots of ways that people manage this issue, including using a car as a private space, or asking a partner or family member to wear noise canceling headphones while in session. If it helps you to feel less self-conscious, you can wear noise canceling earphones too.
Set a no interruptions rule for yourself and others. It's helpful to close and save all browser tabs while in session and use your computer's software to disable notifications for the hour we're in session. Setting a "do not disturb" note on the door of your private space can be helpful as a reminder for others around you.
A phone is fine, but using a laptop or desktop give us flexibility, especially for youth and adolescent clients. For some more visual or participatory therapeutic experiences I use with youth and adolescent clients, like game playing, art, or file sharing, it's helpful to be logged on on a laptop or desktop.
Set a reminder/alarm for our sessions. With online appointments, it's easy to get involved with another task as our session time approaches and miss the start, or even miss the whole session.
Communicate any problems with the online environment. Technology, by its nature, is not always consistent. If the sound is too low, if a background is distracting, or if the feed glitches, speak up and we'll troubleshoot the problem together.
You must be in Florida during the therapy session. Even thought the great thing about online therapy is that you can do your session from anywhere, regulations require during our sessions that you be physically in a state where I am licensed. If you give any indication that you may be out of state during a session, we'll have to immediately stop the session.