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What is an Online/Telehealth Therapy Session?
Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels
Virtual therapy, telehealth, teletherapy, telemental health, telemedicine, video counseling, online therapy…. There are LOTS of terms floating around out there that all really mean one thing: meeting with your therapist using video/audio technology, similar to Zoom. Telemedicine and telehealth can also refer to other medical and health-related visits, for example with your primary care doctor.
For the purpose of this blog, I’m going to use several of these terms referring to therapy using technology so you can see how interchangeable these terms currently are.
Virtual therapy may feel like a brand-new concept, but it actually has been in practice for several years!
Online therapy has been gaining popularity by the minute, and it’s no surprise why that is! Meeting with your therapist online allows for increased convenience (no traffic to deal with), more flexibility with scheduling since you don’t have to factor in commute, reduced need for child care (for example needing one hour of care vs 2 or more), fewer interruptions due to snow days or illness (since you won’t need to worry about spreading any germs!) and more comfort, as you will be able to stay cozy in your own space.
Typically, telehealth is conducted in such a way that you and your therapist are communicating with one another at the same time - synchronous communication, like when you talk over Facetime with a friend. Asynchronous communication is used to describe ways of communicating that are not simultaneous - for example, email or text. (More examples: Marco Polo and Snapchat could be considered asynchronous communication.)
More recently due to the global pandemic, insurance companies have altered their rules about sessions having video and audio vs. just audio sessions - aka, some insurance companies are now permitting phone sessions to be covered by insurance whereas until recently this had not been the case. This can be beneficial for some clients, for example, those who are less comfortable with using technology. It can also be a great backup plan if there are technical difficulties with the video platform during your appointment. If you are interested in phone sessions, ask your therapist what their thoughts are on them.
When online therapy is carried out at its best, it is executed over a secure and HIPAA compliant video platform, meaning that your information and video are encrypted and kept private from outsiders. Currently, due to the pandemic, these regulations have been loosened at the federal level due to the high volume of need for secure platforms. It is so important that people can still get the care that they need during this pandemic, even while social distancing. (I am pleased to say that I am still able to utilize HIPAA compliant video platforms with my clients.)
One thing to keep in mind is that video counseling is still therapy done face-to-face! You will be able to see your therapist’s facial expressions and they will be able to read your body language (within the limits of the screen, of course!). The beautiful thing is that all of the knowledge, the exploration, the perspective, the empathy, the support that comes with in-person treatment is all the still there as it would be if you were sitting together in the same room.
My clients have found being able to access therapy online makes treatment super convenient, while still having that strong working relationship and connection with me. All in all, video therapy is a useful modality that ensures you are able to get support for your mental and emotional health from the safety and comfort of your own home.
It is real therapy, with a real therapist - using technology to make it easier and more convenient!
I hope this info about online counseling helps you find the right therapist in Connecticut or Virginia. If you are still feeling stuck, feel free to call me at 860-384-7626 for a free 15-minute phone or video consultation. I’d be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person, or answer questions about how online therapy would work for you. If you are looking for help with anxiety, boosting self-esteem, people-pleasing, and/or perfectionism, you can read more about how I can help here.
Okay, so now that you’ve learned some more about video counseling, you’re into it and are ready to try out online therapy. You may be wondering “what will my first session be like?”
Stay tuned to learn about what to expect in your first online therapy appointment!
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If you’re struggling with all of the changes happening related to the current coronavirus pandemic, or if you have other personal goals that you are trying to get a handle on, know that you are not alone. This is a challenging time for everyone, with so much uncertainty. If you are feeling especially overwhelmed, anxious, or vigilant, remember you can reach out to a therapist trained in anxiety or trauma to support you! We are here for you.
If you’d like to work with me, set up a free 15 minute phone or video consultation by contacting me here or call me at 860-384-7626. Let’s chat!
Brittany Hankard, LMFT is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Connecticut and Virginia. Brittany owns an online private practice called Vibrant Solutions LLC. Brittany loves to help smart, driven, people-pleasing women move from self-doubt and perfectionism to confidence and clarity about their lives. If you are interested in working with her, click here to set up a consult or call 860-384-7626.
Stuck Coworking with your S.O.? 5 Tips to Thrive While Working From Home
Many people have recently been thrown into working from home, even if you have not been able to do so previously. And, your S.O. may also be at home with you too.
Many people have recently been thrown into working from home, even if you have not been able to do so previously. And, your S.O. may also be at home with you too. This can sound like a vacation to some couples, and a little less fun to other couples. Allow yourselves to have time to adjust to this new normal. You likely will not figure out a perfect system right away, and that is okay. You may find that what works some days will need to be adjusted on other days. Do not expect perfection, from yourself or you S.O. Working from home alongside your sweetie can be a success if you’re able to create healthy boundaries around your workday so you both can be productive and happy.
First, look at your relationship and consider what type of couple you are. Some couples have no issue being around each other pretty consistently. Some couples enjoy much more freedom and independence, and so being stuck together 24/7 may be less than ideal. Remember to do what feels right for your relationship.
Second, before implementing any of these tips, talk with your partner. Having an open dialogue about each of you are experiencing this whole coworking thing, and what ideas you both have, can be so beneficial. You may find that they see the situation differently than you do. Open communication is key.
Third, if you are already frustrated by the situation, take time to yourself to self-sooth. This means taking time to take deep breaths, remembering all of the wonderful things you love about your partner, and seeing the bigger picture. You may be working in a matchbox. Yelling at each other will only put gasoline on the fire. When expressing yourself or making suggestions, speak calmly and with love. Afterall, you do love this person!
Ok, so now down to the tips. Remember to talk with your partner about what will work best for you both. You may need to compromise on some things, because you are different people with different wants and needs. That is okay, and not unlike any other situations you have navigated in the past.
If you can, work in separate spaces. Maybe you can repurpose a kitchen table or coffee table to be a home office. If you use technology for your work, and you have a laptop, this can be pretty easy to do. Creating separate spaces to do your work without breathing down each other’s neck can be key to cowork peacefully.
Take breaks. You may not have a break room or a water cooler to congregate around, but it’s still important to get up, stretch your body, and walk away from work for a few minutes throughout the day. Here’s the idea - you may decide to take breaks separately, to get some alone time. You may decide that you want some breaks together, so you can check in and/or flirt with your S.O. Or you can do a combination of these! If you take a break by yourself, you can go outside, or open a window. Read a book (yes, a real book). Do some meditation - guided or just breathing by yourself. Okay, fine, you can check your phone… but try to do things that are actually nurturing, rather than just feeding that dopamine feedback loop.
Schedule your lunch. Are you a structured person, or someone who prefers a free-flowing day? What about your partner? You may decide to set up a designated time for lunch so that you both have an idea of when to wind down work for midday. This can cut down on frustration if you like to eat at noon on the dot but your partner would rather work until they’re done with a specific task, no matter the time. Again, you can decide to eat lunch separately or together. You can eat in shifts, like back when you were in high school. This could be especially great if you’re not able to work in different rooms. Or you can sit together, have a little lunch date, chat and look at each other’s faces :)
If you have to be on calls, let each other know in advance what time your meetings are, and let them know where you plan to take that meeting. Again, communicating in advance allows there to be less chaos during your day and more cooperation.
Make sure that you both have a real “end” to the workday. What time is work over? It may not be the same for both of you. But make sure that when work is done, it’s really done. Put the laptop and phones away. When your home is also your workplace, it can be very difficult to have a real boundary between when it is time to work, and when it’s time to just be. It can be helpful to have a little ritual to signal the end of the work day, such as turning off a desk light, putting on some fun music (with headphones, if your love is still working), changing into comfy clothes, or putting on some scented hand lotion. The ritual itself does not matter as much as what it represents: an end to the workday. Now you can take off your professional hat, tune into your S.O., and ask them how their day was :)
These are just a few ideas aimed at smoothing out your coworking situation with your S.O. Customize these as much as you need to make it fit for your coworking situation. It is okay to try out new things, throw some ideas out the window, or take it day by day if that works for your relationship. Remember that you and your partner are on the same team, and you both want the best for the other. These tips will hopefully help you to compromise, communicate, and find a little bit of balance during a time when there is something new changing every day.
If you’re struggling with all of the changes happening related to the current coronavirus pandemic, or if you have other personal goals that you are trying to get a handle on, know that you are not alone. This is a challenging time for everyone, with so much uncertainty. If you are feeling especially overwhelmed, anxious, or vigilant, remember you can reach out to a therapist trained in anxiety or trauma to support you! We are here for you.
If you’d like to work with me, set up a free 15 minute phone consultation by contacting me here or call me at 860-384-7626. Let’s chat!
Brittany Hankard, LMFT is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Connecticut and Virginia. Brittany owns an online private practice called Vibrant Solutions LLC. Brittany loves to help smart, driven, people-pleasing women move from self-doubt and perfectionism to confidence and clarity about their lives. If you are interested in working with her, click here to set up a consult or call 860-384-7626.