Why Online Therapy Services?
Convenience: Online therapy is a great way to fit the support you need into your busy life. You get the full experience and benefit of working with a seasoned psychologist without the hassle of making it to an office. Many people would rather have the time they would have spent in traffic free to invest back into their lives. I also see people on the weekends which can make it easier to manage work or school commitments.
Choice: Online therapy gives you freedom of choice so you can find the best therapist for the challenge you are facing. Many people are looking for a therapist with a particular expertise but may struggle to find someone who fits the bill in their town or within driving distance. With online therapy, distance is no longer an obstacle to seeing a qualified psychologist with the experience you need.
Privacy: When you see a therapist online, you don’t have to worry about running into anyone you know in the waiting room. Many people feel more free to talk about their challenges from the privacy and comfort of their own home.
Where can I live and see you for online therapy?
I am licensed in both California and Washington and if you reside in either state, I would be happy to talk with you and see if we are a good fit! I am also a member of PsyPact, which is an interstate agreement for participating Psychologists to provide therapy across state lines to people who live in PsyPact participating states. The list of PsyPact states is changing as more states pass legislation to participate. To find out if your state is a psypact state, check PsyPact Map. If you do not live in Washington, California, or a PsyPact participating state, I will not be able to work with you and encourage you to seek out a psychologist in your state.
Is online therapy effective?
Yes! There has been a growing body of research in the past decade that consistently shows online therapy to be either equivalent to or slightly more effective than face-to-face therapy. In 2013, the Journal of Affective Disorders published an article showing online therapy to be slightly more effective than in person therapy for treating depression and that these benefits were still seen at 3 months after treatment ended. A 2007 article in American Psychiatric Association showed equal rates of improvement and equal satisfaction among 500 patients divided into online or face-to-face therapy. Many more studies are being published consistently and the results continue to show good reason to believe online therapy is a good way to get mental health treatment.
How secure is online therapy?
I take your privacy seriously. That is why I use Zoom, a HIPAA compatible, encrypted program that does not have access to any health information transmitted. While there are never any guarantees of perfect security over the internet, I will continue to make every effort to meet and exceed HIPAA standards for encryption and security.
What if I’m not very good with computers?
No problem. I can talk you through it. After we have an initial phone consultation to see if we are a good fit to work together, I will send you an invitation to your Zoom meeting room. If you do not already have Zoom, it is an easy download to your computer or portable device. When you sign in to your Zoom room at your appointment time, I will let you in from the virtual waiting room and then we will bein the session.
Other tips:
“Arrive” early: It’s hard to go from running 100 miles an hour to being present without transition time. I recommend arriving to your set aside space 5-10 minutes before your appointment time to slow your mind down and reflect on what you want to get out of the session. This will help you make the most of your time from the first moment we connect.
Keep the space private and reduce distractions: Let people who might be around know that you have an appointment and need to not be interrupted while you’re on your video-call. Close out any other applications or browsers so the only thing up on your device or computer is Zoom. If you can set your computer or device to “do not disturb” please do so to prevent you having pop-ups or notifications interrupt your session. Having therapy in the same space each time can be helpful as can making yourself a cup of tea or having water nearby.
Use headphones: Headphones help you focus on the conversation and minimize distractions. It also tends to improve the sound quality and prevent any feedback or echo of voices.
Tissues: You may not need them, but it is always better to have them and not need them than to have to rummage to find a tissue during session.