Tips to Make the Most Out of Online Therapy

Although California is opening up after the last few months of bunkering down at home, you might not yet feel comfortable stepping into a physical office. You can talk to a therapist online. Our therapists are here for you virtually. We take your health and mental health seriously, so we’ve made online counseling accessible for those here in San Diego and throughout California.

Virtual therapy such as online marriage counseling is as accessible as ever due to telehealth services available from the convenience of your own home. You can still make the same progress as you would during in-person therapy since telehealth still facilitates emotional connection and growth. 

Create a Safe Space

As therapists, we take the time to craft a safe, healing space for our clients. Our therapy offices reflect a peaceful environment, so you might want to find a space at home where you feel the most comfortable and secure. You’ll want to find a spot where you won’t be interrupted and where you can chat openly without worrying about anyone overhearing your conversation. Wondering what to expect in your first session? We break it down in our blog post.

Prepare Beforehand

Since we're having an online therapy session rather than an in-person meeting, you'll have to have a solid Wi-Fi signal. Whether we’re discussing trauma or online marriage counseling, you should check the signal in the room you’ll be connecting from. You might want to wear headphones to help keep the conversation confidential and for better audio quality if your house or neighborhood tends to be noisy. Take a look at any instructions or confirmations from your therapist; they will provide additional information or tips about the process and what devices work the best. Choose a larger screen such as a laptop or tablet rather than a phone. These devices provide better image quality and stability. Finally, do a test video to check your setup and make sure your face is lit well.

Have a Plan for the Kids 

If you have children, arrange for them to be watched by someone else during the time of your scheduled session. Establish a way for the person to reach you or communicate with you should an emergency arise (by knocking on the door, texting you, etc.) If your children are older, give your kids something to do or just let them know you’ll be on a call in the other room.

Take Notes

This might be virtual, but our telehealth sessions are just like any other regular session. You might want to have a pen and paper ready in case you want to jot down a few notes. You never know what might resonate with you and what insights might come up that you don't want to forget..

Allow Time to Process

Therapy is a form of self-care, so allow yourself some time to process, to absorb, to heal. At a regular session, you might have time during your drive home or back to work to process and reflect on the session. At home, you might feel the need to immediately get up and resume “being productive.” Give yourself an additional 10-15 minutes after your session before re-engaging family and tasks.

Contact Us Today

Talk to a therapist online. No matter whether you want to delve into online marriage counseling or therapy for your teenager, you can make just as much progress with online therapy as you would in-person. Some situations such as therapeutic disclosure of infidelity may require in-person session(s) but we always take appropriate precautions to ensure safety during the pandemic. Please call Katheryne at (760) 283-7000 with questions or to book your first session. She’ll connect you with the therapist who’s best for you.

Note: Due to licensing laws, we can generally only provide online counseling to clients who live in California. There are a few states that allow us to complete a limited number of sessions with their residents online. If interested, please inquire for details.