10 Tips for a great virtual therapy session
Virtual therapy, an increasingly popular and effective form of therapy, offers a unique and convenient way to receive professional help. As it differs from traditional in-person sessions, I'm here to share 10 tips to help you prepare and make the most of your virtual therapy experience:
Make sure your space is private. Believe it or not, the space we are in plays a big role in how comfortable we feel sharing in session, so we want to make sure the space we are in feels comfortable.
Parking beforehand. For safety reasons, if you are driving, it is extremely important to make sure you have safely parked your car before the session so you’re not using up your therapy time searching for parking, as your therapist may not be able to extend the session time to make up for the time lost. Also, keep in mind that therapy sessions are not the same as casually talking with a friend or loved one. Being an active participant is important to help you achieve your treatment goals, but also your therapist may explore uncomfortable territory that can have the potential to activate high levels of stress or sadness that are not safe to experience while driving.
Having charging cables accessible.
Ensure devices are charged and have possible backup devices. Having phones on silent, focus mode, off, or airplane mode during therapy time can also help avoid interruptions that can feel like a stop-and-go traffic situation when you’re trying to get things off your chest.
Knowing what the plan is ahead of time if you and your therapist lose connection.
Understand that some subtle non-verbal cues may not be easily picked up over a video call. To ensure a smooth and effective session, it's important to communicate with your therapist as clearly as possible. This will help you feel understood and valued in the therapeutic process.
While meeting virtually allows for flexibility, there are some restrictions on where we can have virtual therapy, depending on your therapist’s license and insurance policies. In my case, I am licensed in CA and NV, so that means that I can meet with clients that are physically located in either state. If clients schedule a session while located somewhere the therapist is not licensed, then because of the laws in place, the session is most likely going to be canceled. So, if you plan to travel, make sure you check first with your therapist to see if you can continue sessions while traveling.
Recording sessions. If you feel you want to record a part of therapy to review later, it is important to first talk with your therapist to obtain consent. Recording in secret can be damaging to the therapeutic relationship and is also considered illegal in CA, which is a two-party consent state. Because of that, your therapist is required to obtain your informed consent prior to recording any sessions.
Keep an open mind. Therapists who provide virtual therapy want to help, and part of that entails first assessing whether, or not virtual therapy is a good fit for a client. Not everyone will be, and sometimes things change, and clients who were a good fit for virtual therapy may no longer be. It’s nothing personal and does not reflect anything negative about you. If anything your therapist is trying to help you and save you time by ensuring you are at the right place receiving the right care. If they recommend in-person therapy or a different level of care, then it’s important to listen to their rationale and consider their recommendation. You also have the right to seek out a second opinion as well.
It’s okay if you change your mind. You may have started out wanting online therapy but realize you prefer to meet in person. It’s okay! The best thing to do is let your therapist know, and they can even help you with referrals.
