Online Therapy
In recent years, the world of mental health support has undergone a major transformation. Online therapy, also known as teletherapy or virtual therapy, has become an increasingly popular option for mental health care. With increased virtual options and the growing need for accessible mental health services, online therapy offers an alternative that is convenient, flexible, and effective. I have offered both in-person and virtual therapy throughout my time as a therapist, and I see benefits to both. At this time, CCC is fully virtual and you may ask why I chose that option. Let me tell you a little bit about my journey in the telehealth space and how I landed here.
Starting with Telehealth
It will likely come as no surprise that my first experiences with telehealth came during 2020 and the Covid lockdowns. At the time, I was practicing in California and my work was fully in-person. I loved my job, being around colleagues, and the therapy options for my clients. The announcement of our lockdown came as no surprise, there were murmurs of it in the air in the preceding weeks. I recall exactly where I was in the clinic when the official announcement came. I was wrapping up an assessment case when I got the notification on my phone that CA was declaring a lockdown. My supervisor popped her head into my office and said when I was done to head home and expect to work remotely for the foreseeable future. Overnight, everything changed. I woke up the next morning to my first all staff virtual meeting where they educated us on our new telehealth platform and protocols.
To say I was resistant to the change would be an understatement. I was willing to do it, but boy was I counting down the days to return to in-person therapy. I stubbornly dug in my heels in, expecting everyone else would feel the same. But in the coming weeks, something surprised me. My colleagues were not echoing the same views as me. I remember a fellow therapist, someone I very much respected, talking about how much better her therapy sessions with her teen clients had become. “They are so much more relaxed and themselves at home. I am seeing a new side to them that I was missing before. They are really opening up.” My colleague discussed how she was able to see more people and she felt that the sessions were much more substantial. They were truly focused on meaningful content without the distractions of an office or a commute.
And then something else happened, I started to notice the positive difference that telehealth was making for my clients. One individual stands out – someone who had really needed therapy but had previously missed several sessions and I was uncertain if he was committed to the process. All of a sudden, with online therapy, he was the most consistent client. He had various stressors including housing, job, relationships, and financial. All of those stressors had previously presented as a barrier to treatment – he didn’t even have reliable transportation to get him to in-person therapy. But by opening up the option to meet remotely, he was able to attend therapy weekly and began to make true progress. Seeing this transformation within my clients began to tear down my own defenses about online therapy.
As the years progressed and lockdowns subsided, I began to work in a hybrid model. But I found that with online therapy I was reaching so many more people who previously did not have access. I also had clients who did have access but they were still inclined to the ease of a remote option and found that they were getting more from their sessions. Most importantly, I learned that therapy is still therapy regardless of where you conduct it. As long as the client and therapist truly connect then the platform is often inconsequential.
At this point in my career, I offer only online telehealth services. I still value in-person work and do not want it to go away. Some people simply feel more connected sharing the same room or need a reason to get out of the house. I fully respect that practice. But for me, the benefits of remote work cannot be discounted. I see clients who need a flexible schedule, who do not have transportation, who are busy, and who want to be in their own space. Telehealth offers safety and comfort while minimizing distractions. For anyone who is uncertain or on the fence, I encourage you to give it a try. You, like me, might become a convert and find deep value out of this mode of therapy in the modern age.
If you would like to learn more about our services, contact us today and speak with a licensed therapist. We see teens, adults and couples.
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