Online therapy works with a similar objective to that of brick and mortar therapy by providing tools, solutions and helps you fix your mental health issues and allowing you to overcome challenges in many areas of your life. Online therapy comes with many advantages and is just a tap away. It enables you to share your thoughts and challenges anytime you wish in an atmosphere that you are already a part of.
It can be overwhelming for many people while deciding to start online therapy when you’re experiencing a mental health issue. According to extensive research conducted on psychotherapy practice, it proves that the therapy is effective in improving individuals’ mental health, rest assured that an individual is making the right choice. So it is essential that you need to find the option that works best for you. There arae certain factors that you must consider such as your schedule, budget, and insurance plan. Here are some essential tips to follow before you begin with your online therapy for positive outcomes along the way.
1. Do Your Research
It is important that you do your homework like some research on where they graduated from, what they specialize in, and to check if their services are covered under your insurance. In the light of the ongoing pandemic, many insurance providers have extended their insurance coverage for virtual counseling services as well. So make sure that you make an inquiry about the teletherapy coverage. Some may prefer to have therapy sessions with the same gender, so it is worth exploring what therapy fits you the most
2. Prioritize your Session
Online therapy is just like any other scheduled face time session that you are generally acquainted with. So, in order for therapy to work, make it a priority. Many people who have had successful online therapy sessions feel that online therapy consultations are very convenient in terms of scheduling and are also easier to cancel with just an email and that one can avoid the appointment. It’s important to stick to a schedule, time, and place for it. So, make sure that you fully focus on your online therapist and block off enough time. This way you are sure to establish a healthy client and therapy relationship and get the most out of it.
3. Find A Personal And Comfortable Place
With online therapy, you can enjoy the comfort of being at home. Since therapy is meant to be confined only to you, make sure you choose to have a safe, private, and judgment-free zone, isolating space in your home where you can be candid and speak openly to your therapist. Make sure you avoid interruptions, so it’s important that you do prepare your family out there or others in your home to help you with the online sessions.
4. Don’t Concentrate Too Much On Your Front Camera
When you turn on your front camera, don’t keep staring at your own face during your virtual session. This will help you focus on what is important, rather than nitpick your flaws. So, make sure, you don’t focus too much on checking your lighting, posture, or T-Zone, as it won’t help you engage with your therapist’s questions and observations. The intentional and thorough reflection of yourself is where you can gain insight that can help you develop strategies and skills to help you cope up with your mental health conditions.
5. Check For Technical Glitches In Advance
Teletherapy sessions are all timed like the brick and mortar’s regular in-person appointments, and you are charged for the full-timed session. So, make sure you make the best out of this time rather than wasting time figuring out technological glitches. When you encounter such irregularities during your online therapy session, it may trigger unwanted stress and anxiety. So to have a good session with calmness and composure, download all the software you need much ahead of time and conduct a practice run–through.
6. Be Strategic In Scheduling Your Appointments
Plan your scheduled appointment with your therapist keeping in mind the time you allot to your family members, your office work, and your daily routine. Many may encounter problems with scheduling an online therapy because of very little separation between professional and personal lives in these pandemic times. But that’s ok. For such people, switching to after-work sessions is recommended as it reflects on your emotions without you having to jump back to share your work documents or have a video brainstorm.
7. Give Some Buffering Time To Your Therapist As Well
If you are a first-timer, it takes time for you to adjust with your line of sessions to come up in the future. So, as strange as it is for you, remember that even your therapist is adapting too, to help you with your first-time online therapy. Make sure you communicate well and respond to your therapist’s questions, as the main intention is to gather information and get to know you, so that they can have the best strategy from the start to help you with your mental health issues.
8. Pen Down Some Key Points To Discuss With Your Therapist
After every online therapy session, block a good 20 minutes time to journal your thoughts, the lessons you learned, and the information you want to remember. If something looks overwhelming, make sure to inform your therapist in the upcoming session, so that she/he can help you with good insights.
Final Thoughts:
To get the most out of teletherapy, try scheduling your appointment every week. And it’s equally important that you give the therapeutic relationship a chance, even if it doesn’t seem to work out for you. After a few sessions, still, if you don’t think it’s a right fit, then you can try another one. Teletherapy uses technology that most people are familiar with, so with time, you can enjoy your sessions. But be clear about your expectations with your therapist so they can better meet your needs