Tips for Virtual Therapy

How to make the most of your therapy sessions without the traditional in-office setting

The pandemic definitely affected the way we do therapy. Read on to learn a few tips for making virtual therapy feel like in-office therapy.

Before It ALL Went Virtual

Before the pandemic, I was in-office. I had done maybe one virtual session prior to March 2020. My entire professional career to date was in-office. Then, I flipped. Well, we all kind of flipped, as it was required at the time. The unprecedented nature of living through a country-wide shut-down obviously came with some changes. The biggest change for my profession? Therapy went from in-office with your clinician to in your home with your clinician. And that came with some new challenges. At first, many of my clients weren’t sure where to take their therapy appointments because privacy was a concern. They weren’t sure what to do with telehealth platforms and video conferencing technology amidst their very real mental health needs and skyrocketing fear about catching COVID-19.

I get it.

As a client of therapy myself, I had only gone into an office for my appointments, as well. Then, all of a sudden, I was also doing my sessions online. My spouse and I even switched to doing our couple’s therapy work online, too. It was a whole new world for psychotherapy treatment.

At first, I didn’t like it. As a client or clinician. It was new and weird and different. Same for many of my clients. However, having access to therapy versus not being able to go due to health risks was extremely important for many of us, especially during that first wave. Now, it almost feels like old hat to me. I can’t believe I never considered practicing this way before. It was better for my income to avoid cancelling for sick days or snow days. It was better for my personal health and wellness, as working all day in comfortable clothes with ability to set the office temperature to whatever was optimal for me was awesome. And my clients started to feel the benefits, too. Not having to commute to the office either before, during or after work. Not having to take PTO to attend therapy sessions meant ability to attend more regularly, and with consistency.

But there were still challenges.

Client Questions for Virtual Therapy

How do I find a quiet, private space when my spouse and kids are home? What do I do if I get/see a work message during my appointment? What if I get interrupted by co-workers or my family or my pets? All questions my clients had about moving their mental health treatment from in-office to online. All valid questions. This was going to be a little bit different. We all had to adjust.

The Tips for Successful Virtual Therapy Sessions

Now, after five (5) full years (almost six now!) of practicing virtually, I’ve learned a few things. Some intentionally, through certification training programs for being a telehealth provider. And others through time and experience.

Here’s five (5) tips for having successful psychotherapy appointments virtually.

1). Find a quiet, private space. Yes, this is obvious. However, try finding a quiet, private space that you can use EVERY time you have an appointment. Familiarity of space can set the stage for what’s to come—kind of like walking into my office, the same space for years, for many of my clients. When you go into that space, get your device ready, and knock on the virtual waiting room door, you’re in the mindset for ‘therapy is about to happen.’

2). Treat the session the same as if you were in your therapist’s office. This means being fully clothed, not driving a car, not doing other activities at the same time (like laundry or making a grocery list). Show up to your non-therapist-office space with the same intention and awareness as if you were walking into your therapist’s office.

3). Bring your fidget and comfort items. I had stress squeeze balls, slinkies, pop-its, and other fun, fidgety items in a bowl on the coffee table in my office. They got a lot of use! So, get your favorite fidgets and have them in the space where you attend your therapy appointments. I also had pillows, sensory-soothing items, blankets, and scented lotion for client use. Get your favorite cozy blanket and light your favorite scented candle or spray your favorite scented room refresher before your virtual therapy session begins. Make it a comfortable space for you to get vulnerable.

4). Minimize other browsers and notifications. Whether you’re using phone, tablet, work device, personal PC or something else, turn off other notifications (on your phone, too, as if you were in the therapist’s office, remember?), close tabs, turn off team messenger apps, close down your email. This is only for the 50-60 minutes you’re attending your online therapy appointment. Unless it’s a true emergency, nobody needs access to you during your telehealth appointment, so, set the boundary (as if you were driving to your clinician’s office or exam room) and stick to it to make the most out of your virtual therapy time.

5). Test the video conferencing system with your electronic device before the appointment time. Go to the web link and see how it works and what it looks like. Make sure your video and microphone have permission to access the secure telehealth platform. Do the tests if prompted for video and sound. Check to see if you’ve gotten any communication from your therapist about how to access the video conferencing system, any issues or glitches happening that day, or alternative video conferencing apps to use in case the original one is not working correctly. It’s kind of like making sure the car has gas before you leave to attend a therapy appointment in office…don’t spend your precious appointment time stopping to fill up because you didn’t prepare.

About This Virtual Therapy Provider

I’m Sarah, a licensed clinical social worker with permission to practice in Virginia and Maryland. I have owned and operated my private practice for almost ten (10) years. More than half of those years has been exclusively online. I hold a specialty certification for telehealth treatment and have modified and adapted my practice, and clinical skills, to best serve my clients in the virtual space. If you live in either state, and need a seasoned virtual therapist, reach out to me. If you are a clinician and have trouble engaging with clients online, contact me for consultation. I help individuals heal. And I help clinicians thrive…without burning out.

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