This page has been temporarily altered to reflect changes in the use of distance counselling in light of Covid 19 .
Teletherapy is a convenient way to reach help and begin your transformation in the comfort of your own home. If you have questions or reservations that are not addressed on this page, please feel free to reach out. If necessary, I will be happy to brainstorm with you about how you can most comfortably access help.
It will be your decision if you wish to meet me on a secure video platform, or if you would prefer to meet over the phone. I believe there are advantages and disadvantages to both. The greatest advantage of using the video platform is that I will be better able to read your body language and appreciate the full impact of the content you are discussing. If you are someone who struggles to identify when and what they are feeling, it may be very helpful for you to hear me share what I think I am noticing. I believe the greatest advantage of a phone session is the freedom and security of being unobserved. If you are someone that is fairly skilled at identifying your various feelings but struggles with the impulse to mask or hide them, being able to wear your feelings unobserved may enable you to move deeper into the content you are sharing. I am very comfortable with clients switching back and forth between each mode of delivery depending on what feels best for them for that particular session.
Clients interested in video-based sessions will have access to my secure HIPPA-compliant zoom room.
New clients will need to provide me with a personal phone number so that I am able to call you if we experience technical difficulties. New clients will also need to sign my consent form online through DocuSign, or by printing and scanning it. This information will be clearly laid out for you in the welcome email.
To schedule your first session, please reach out using the messaging function or simply book an appointment through my online calendar. It would be helpful if you were willing to indicate what has prompted you to seek counseling at this time.
Frequently asked questions about psychotherapy delivered online or over the phone .
- Use headphones with a built-in microphone. This way my portion of the conversation will be confidential, and you can speak quietly into the microphone to reduce the risk of being overheard.
- Use your phone to play music or white noise (by downloading a white noise app) and place it by the door of the room you will do therapy in.
- Have the therapy session from your car, in your driveway, or perhaps after driving to a secluded area.
- Have the therapy session over the phone while you are walking in a secluded area.
- Use code words, pause rather than saying a word you wouldn’t want overhearing (ex divorce), or simply allude to a previously discussed topic vaguely (my whole thing). If we have worked together before it is likely I know you fairly well and will be aware of what you’re communicating. If not, I will do my best to read between the lines. If I am not confident that I follow you I will say so. If necessary, each platform also includes a private chat.
How will it be different?
As you may know, counselors are observers of human behavior and gather a lot of information from body language, vocal inflection, eye contact, and other non-verbal cues. It may be more difficult for me to pick up on what your feeling, and I might be more likely to misunderstand or offer reflections that are off the mark. Now more than ever, it is important to communicate to me when you feel misunderstood, or that I am missing information. I will try to prevent misunderstandings by asking more regularly if I am reading you correctly, and also, asking your help in articulating your experience for me. I ask for your patience when this feels annoying.
Importantly also, it might be more likely that you misunderstand something I say. If something does not sit well, or you don’t feel understand, I hope you will ask me to re-iterate- or voice your confusion/ discomfort so I am able to address it.
Another way you could help this process would be to place the camera away from you so that I am able to clearly see your face, and your shoulders are in the frame. I understand that this might not be comfortable or reasonable depending on how we are speaking (if you are holding up a phone). This is simply something to consider
What about privacy?
Unfortunately, meeting online with other people in your household will likely make our conversations less secure. Feeling you can speak freely is an important element to therapy and I encourage you to take whatever steps you can add a feeling of privacy and security.
Here are some suggestions for your consideration:
I know some of these might feel over-the-top or unnecessary, however, if they make speaking freely feel even a little safer I believe they are worth the effort.
What are the risks?
As we have discussed our communications may be less private/secure, and there is a greater risk of misunderstandings. Another important risk is that a call might be dropped, or audio might be lost at an inopportune time in our discussion. Please know that there is absolutely no circumstance where I would hang up on you, or ignore you. This simply will not happen. If this appears to have happened, we are having technical difficulties.
If we run into technical difficulty, please exit and re-enter the chat and I will reboot the call. If that fails I will call you on your cell phone.