Welcome!  Are you thinking about starting therapy but not sure how it works during the pandemic?  There are pros and cons to the use of telehealth.

 

Telehealth, for our purposes, refers to the delivery of mental health services over a remote, synchronous program.  That means videoconferencing and phone calls with live interaction.  Email is another way I communicate with clients, but it's not as useful because it's not live.

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I use a program called Doxy, which is an end-to-end encrypted videoconferencing platform.  It's very easy to use, secure, and reliable if you have a good internet connection.  Current clients have found it easy to use desktops, laptops, tablets, and smart phones.  I recommend sitting somewhere that you'll have good service and privacy.  Headphones really help reduce distraction, increase privacy, and improve overall sound quality.

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Many people find the use of technology makes meeting easier - it cuts down on travel time to the office and keeps you safer during the pandemic.  I feel strongly that I want to protect clients from exposure, so I am not currently offering in-person visits.  Even though I would normally prefer to have sit-down meetings with you, it's still possible to get help during these times and I highly recommend starting therapy if you think you need it.  Because most goals are easily adaptable to this format, it just makes sense to try to improve your life now, rather than waiting for the pandemic to pass.  It's just as important to deal with the additional stress of current events, as these can add cumulative negative impacts on your sense of well-being and functioning.

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Therapy works over telehealth, but it's not for everyone.  Some people find that it doesn't feel the same as in-person meetings, and there's a loss of that human exchange that comes from sitting across the room from each other.  For this and other reasons, some people may have a harder time feeling focused or progress may be slower.  On the other hand, some people have thrived with this modality and are making excellent progress toward their goals.  Let's talk about whether your situation is right for this type of therapy.

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