Must-Do’s Before a Telehealth Session
There is something extremely convenient about getting to meet with your therapist within the confines of your own space. Read the following tips to make sure it can be productive and helpful. I provide telehealth therapy through a HIPAA-compliant platform with TherapyNotes.
Preparation - You should receive an email and text notification a couple days before the appointment with a link to the video call. You can also access it through your patient portal.
Privacy - Make sure you are in a quiet, private, and confidential space as this will allow you to not have any disturbances to the process. This could be inside a parked car, bedroom, office, or large closet. Utilizing ear buds/headphones can help with privacy.
Strong connection - Ensure there is minimal disconnection issues by staying close to the router or using an ethernet cable to connect.
Location - Be in the state your therapist is licensed in (Texas). Otherwise, your therapist will have to cancel the appointment and you may be charged full fee.
Notifications - Turn off all notifications including email and text message as it can disrupt and distract you from full engagement.
Closing Programs - Close programs or apps that you are not using to allow more working memory to be used on keeping your computer’s stability.
Device - Charge your laptop, computer, phone and make sure your sound, mic, and camera are working before the session begins.
Comfort - Pick a spot where you can feel comfortable. Cozy blankets, pillows, water/tea/coffee, tissues, and good lighting.
Phone # - Understand that this may cause some disruption to the therapy process. If the call disconnects due to internet connection issues, try logging off/on into the call or waiting it out. Your therapist may reach out via phone call or email to troubleshoot.
In the instances that you prefer in-person services or no longer wish to continue with telehealth, please let me know and I can provide referrals to a mental health professional that can provide those services in your area. In my clinical experience and research, clients report similar therapeutic outcomes using telehealth services compared to in-person therapy.
