As I’m getting used to telehealth in my own practice, I’m learning a lot! COVID 19 has lead to a crash course in telehealth for a lot of therapists. Here are some tips that I tell my clients to help us have a successful telehealth session when we’re used to working in person:

1. Use headphones

   I don’t love using headphones, quite honestly, but it does really work a lot better. It cuts down on the feedback through each side of the session and blocks out background noise. It also can provide a little extra privacy if you’re having a tough time finding a good spot for your session.

2. Find a private spot

   Really, you’re going to want to do this. Even if you think you feel comfortable talking in front of family members or feel like you can speak freely - please find a private spot where no one can overhear your session. It’s going to cut down on distraction and better replicate our in person therapy sessions. One of the magics of therapy is being able to speak freely, and we want to keep that! If there are other people at home with you, tell them you’re in a session and ask for some extra privacy.

3. Check your device

Make sure your device is connected and has a strong wifi or cellular signal. A weak signal makes the session choppy and sometimes lags, both of which can really interfere with the flow of the session or cause it to cut out completely. Again, we want things to go as smoothly as possible to replicate your typical sessions. Charge your device before we start, as well as your headphones if they’re wireless.

4. Get everything you need before we start

Coffee, Kleenex, your cat. Prep for our session (mostly!) how you would for an in person session. Find a comfortable spot to sit. If you’re using your phone for the session, think about where you’re going to set it. Check the camera view and make sure your therapist can see you and you can see them.

5. Be honest about how telehealth feels for you

Some people feel more guarded in these sessions, some feel more open. Some feel they can’t talk as much, some talk more. It’s a different format that we’re used to, and it’s ok to have a period of adjustment. Be honest with your therapist about how it feels different for you and let them help troubleshoot if something needs adjustment. It’s been very interesting for me to be able to see people’s homes during our telehealth sessions, but that does open up an additional layer of vulnerability that doesn’t happen in our in office sessions. Talk about that.

You don’t have to love telehealth. I’m grateful that it’s an option and that I’m able to do that from home, but I definitely prefer in person sessions. And you know what? That’s ok. I’m still going to do good work with my clients and do the best we can with what we have right now.