Online therapy sessions are not what most of us are used to, but here are some ways to make the most of a difficult situation

Lockdown and shelter-in-place orders make life difficult at the best of times, and for anyone suffering with mental health disorders, these periods of isolation can exacerbate our problems rather than lessen them.

However, despite the lack of in-person sessions with a therapist, there are ways and means of getting a much needed discussion with our healthcare professionals through online video chat services.

Research shows that teletherapy is just as effective as in-person therapy, and will allow you to get access to the support we all need in times of great stress.

Here are some things to keep in mind when taking teletherapy sessions:

There will be some adjustments

Being used to the environment of your therapist’s office, it will likely feel strange to suddenly start opening up to someone over the Internet whilst sitting in your bedroom, living room, or kitchen. This is completely normal. A positive aspect of this may be that being in a familiar place could help open up your discussions, too.

Treat video conferences as in-person meetings

Put on your normal clothes, get washed, brush your hair; in short, do everything you would do as if you were actually heading into your therapist’s office. The more you treat your teletherapy like an actual therapy session, the better it will be for you.

Use the best space you can for the meeting

As an add-on to the previous point, setting yourself up for success means not only looking the part, but feeling the part too. This could mean setting up your laptop or device in a part of the house that you wouldn’t normally spend relaxation time in. The soft comfort of your bed might not be the best fit for a productive session!

Prepare your computer and equipment

Obviously, a major part of teletherapy is the computer and equipment you’re going to use. Make sure that wherever you end up sitting in the house, you have a great connection to the Internet, that there are no background sounds to distract you or your therapist, and that you’ve chosen a comfortable position to sit.

Remember that teletherapy is extremely useful right now

Everyone in the world is dealing with a problem that we didn’t imagine would hit us this way, and it’s changed many of our lives irrevocably. Therapy is an excellent way to manage these changes and it is nothing to be ashamed of.

Online therapy can be an empowering way to navigate the stresses of isolation and deal with your mental health, especially when we are unable to leave our homes.

If you think that teletherapy sessions may be something that can help you, call us today for a free consultation with a therapist on (415) 689-­4131, contact us online, or make an appointment through our confidential booking system.

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