Top 6 Reasons to do Online Therapy
1. Concerns about Coronavirus or other health reasons; have your sessions as a couple or individual from your home or office.
2. Responsibilities at home that make it difficult to travel to an appointment.
3. Embarrassment about seeking help or anxiety about face-to-face appointments.
4. Traffic, or you’re in a remote location.
5. Difficulty coordinating a time that works for a multi-client session or you’re in different locations.
6. You wish to minimize your environmental impact by driving less.
Imagine you’re sitting on your favorite chair, or out in your yard, at your computer, or even in your PJs having online therapy. You’re in your own comfortable environment (and let’s face it, therapy itself isn’t comfortable-or meant to be), meeting with a trusted therapist to address the concerns in your life. You’re in calm, compassionate hands; seen, heard, valued, learning about yourself, growing, uncovering new parts of yourself, working toward being and living your unique, authentic self. You’ll also learn practical tools and skills for communicating, gaining connection and intimacy, and getting out of the cycles that aren’t helping you.
Here are a Bunch of Practical Things to Consider Regarding Online (Video) Therapy
There are a few things to keep in mind about online therapy.
1. A therapist is licensed in a set location (e.g., my Marriage and Family Therapist licensure in is the state of California exclusively).
2. You must be a California resident.
3. Your online therapist will look into local resources in case you need to be seen in person.
4. Your online therapist must ask each time your full name and location.
5. All the requirements (legal and ethical) that a therapist must follow are still true online.
6. You will sign both a Telehealth and Informed Consent document.
I am offering therapy online, not coaching. Here are a few important distinctions between therapists and coaches:
1. Therapists may not provide therapy across state lines; coaches may not practice therapy since they are not licensed.
2. Therapists must have a Masters degree, complete a practicum consisting of 3000 hours of supervised therapy, and take two Board exams. Additionally, therapists are required to take continuing education to maintain a license. Therapists are accountable to the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).
3. Coaches are supposed to help with tangible future plans and steps to attain them. They are not licensed or trained to get into emotional material or look into the past of the client’s life. For example, when I read Oprah magazine a couple of years ago I was shocked at the “coaching” article because the coach was clearly providing “therapy.”
A few thoughts about confidentiality with Telehealth:
1. Email/Text/Phone: If you choose to use your phone, email, or text, you acknowledge that these are insecure forms of communication and you understand the risks.
2. For online therapy, I use a HIPPA secure system.
One last thought for you to consider:
Online therapy may not be less expensive; you are getting value from a seasoned therapist, rather than the fee being location-related. My clients are looking for a great therapist.
#Marriage counseling#Couples therapy#Premarital counseling#Individual adult therapy