Online therapy, like all things, might take some time to adjust to. Overall, however, it is very similar to face-to-face therapy. But if you find it slightly scary (or you would like to be better prepared for Online Therapy), follow these tips to put you more at ease. Especially during your first Online Therapy session.
- It is a good idea tot give yourself some buffer time before and after your appointment. Make sure you have enough time to get your device set up so you feel more relaxed. As it can be hard to transition out of therapy back into whatever you’re doing, building in a little buffer time can give you a chance to reset and be ready for whatever you have to do next.
- You don’t want to start your session and find out that the internet connection sucks where you are. SO, it I sjust better to sort out all the little kinks in advance. Try out the webcam and the microphone on your computer to make sure both are working. If there’s software you need to use to meet with your therapist, make sure to familiarize yourself with it before you start the online therapy session.
- Make sure you have a comfortable, relaxed place to sit.
- During therapy there will be times that you might be vulnerable. So you want to make sure you have a private area for your session. If you’re not in a private space you might not be able to focus on your session and the work you need to do in your Online Therapy session. So: if you don’t have a room with a door you can close, try sitting in your car or your garage. Or even bring a chair into the bathroom and set up there. And for more privacy, wear headphones during your session.
- You don’t have to get all fancy for a screen. If you’re uncomfortable with seeing your own face on camera, see if you can turn off that feature on your end, or bring a sticky note to cover the part that shows your face.
- If there’s anything moving in the room (like a ceiling fan) turn it off before your session so the movement doesn’t mess with your camera. Instead of putting your computer on your lap, put it on a flat surface in front of you so there’s less movement on the other end.
- Make sure you have a strong internet connection before an online therapy session. You may need to ask other folks in your home to stop streaming during your session to keep the connection strong. If you don’t have a stable internet connection, some phones can be used as a wireless hotspot using your data. Make sure your internet is up and running before your session, so you don’t need to reset anything once you’ve started.
- Tech is always tricky, and there might be some bumps on the road. Lots of video conferencing services are experiencing delays right now because of COVID-19, so there might be an issue with video quality or sound or something else. Prepare for there to be some hiccups, and have an idea of what you and your therapist will do when they come up. You can even talk to your therapist about this beforehand so you have a plan for what to do in case the technology fails.
