Online Therapy
Life Moves Fast
Sometimes there aren’t enough hours in the day. You spend so much time taking care of everyone else and getting everything on your to-do list done that it’s hard to give time for yourself. Carving out a few hours to take care of yourself is a near-impossible task, a needless barrier.
Then one day, the entire world turned upside down. We all had to move online for the foreseeable future. Work became remote, going out with friends turned into wine and Zoom, and elastic waist pants became a lifestyle.
It took a minute for us to figure out how to pivot, but we did it. And now, some conveniences might be better than before.
The Silver Lining
If there’s one good thing that has come out of the pandemic, it’s online therapy. Pre-pandemic, there were a lot of roadblocks to therapy that have now disappeared.
Now, you can see me from anywhere in the state of Massachusetts. You can be in Worcester, the south shore, or the heart of Cambridge – and your commute to and from therapy will take you seconds.
Online therapy gives clients the convenience of seeing me anywhere instead of dealing with the strain and stress of carving out time to get to therapy. Online therapy gives you more freedom and choice to decide who is the best therapist for you – not who is the closest to you!
Plus, there’s a ton of research that shows that online therapy is as good as in-person therapy. And you can do therapy while maintaining your elastic waist pants lifestyle!
How Does It All Work?
Online therapy is a very streamlined process and follows three simple steps.
Step 1. We start with a free 20-minute phone call to discuss what you’re looking for therapy, what you hope changes in your life, and what has been holding you back.
Step 2. Then, we get you set up on my secure portal. I’ll take down your necessary information, and you’ll get an email to log into the system. You’ll set up your account, fill out some paperwork, and get acquainted with the platform (it’s straightforward).
Step 3. After that, it’s therapy time! On the day of your appointment, you will receive an email (15 minutes before our start time) that provides the video chat info. If you’re calling in from a phone, you must download an app. Otherwise, you click on the link, and we are ready to go!
Tips for Online Therapy
Privacy is Key – Make sure you have a place to meet where you won’t be interrupted by others, have privacy, and be able to talk freely.
Wi-Fi is an Essential – You’ll need a reliable Wi-Fi connection. To get the most out of your appointment, make sure you can stream on YouTube without buffering.
Massachusetts Bound – Even though we are online, there are still licensing laws to consider. All clients need to be physically within the borders of Massachusetts at the time of their appointment. I’ll note your location at the beginning of the appointment.
Early Arrival – It helps if you to log into the session a few minutes early. Logging in early gives you a chance to get set up, clear your head, and be ready for the hour we have together. It will also allow you to troubleshoot any tech issues, so we don’t waste our time together.
Prep Work – Come prepared to each appointment just like you would for in-person therapy: arrive a couple of minutes ahead of the scheduled call, make sure you’re fully clothed, have your homework with you, and come with a pen & pad of paper.
Start on Time – Online therapy will save you a lot of time. However, we must start and end on time. Every second counts, and we are likely to have a jam-packed schedule to get through.
Show Up – Therapy only works if you show up for it – and not just physically show up. You must be mentally in the game too. Come with your homework completed and the desire to learn your next skill.
Troubleshooting – Sometimes, technology has a mind of its own. If technology disrupts our appointments, I have a backup plan in place. Please hold tight so we can sort out the issues. It might be as easy as logging out and logging back into the system. However, we sometimes might need to switch to another secure platform. Please know that I’ll never intentionally hang up on you. I will call you back!
Be Flexible – You might initially try to meet with me from your bedroom or call me from your car, and then discover that doesn’t work. To figure out the proper logistics may require trying a couple of different things during the first few sessions. Be flexible, patient, and persistent with it!
Transition Back – Give yourself 10-15 minutes of doing nothing after appointments. It’s hard to pivot from intense therapy back into everyday life. It may require a minute to yourself.
Effective, Efficient, and Convenient
Online therapy provides all the benefits of in-person therapy but has eliminated some drawbacks.
Access therapy from anywhere in Massachusetts where you have privacy and a good Wi-Fi connection!
Get started today with a free 20-minute phone consultation.