Since 2020, there have been many, many changes in the world. Prices for just about everything have gone up, hearing a cough in public can cause panic and feelings of stress, and “to wear a mask or not to wear a mask” is one of the questions of the year. People have gotten closer to their loved ones, lost loved ones, or found that some space was helpful for personal growth. There have been many, many negatives and a few positives as well that have resulted from the pandemic. One of the positive impacts of the pandemic is the increased acceptance, awareness, and access to mental health care. Telehealth and Telemedicine are here to stay it seems and make it much, much easier to access the health care you need. Remote therapy has made incredible strides in increasing access to mental health care across the country. As long as your therapist is licensed in the state that you are a current resident of, you are good to go.
As a remote therapist, I love the fact that I can be in a completely different part of the state than my clients and still be able to connect with them and help them on their therapy journey. In-person therapy can be very limiting. It can be hard to find a therapist who is the right fit and who is within 50 miles of you. For people who struggle with severe anxiety going into an office to sit with someone you don’t know for an hour can feel impossible. Remote therapy allows you to access therapists from all over the state instead of being limited to one area. It can also be great to remember your session five minutes before it starts and still be able to log on, even if you have to run and sit in your car in the parking lot of the grocery store you were running errands in when you remember your session.
As remote therapy is still a bit new to most people, it can be a bit nerve-wracking if you don’t know what to expect. If you are a new intake at a therapy practice, meaning that you have been set up for your first appointment, expect to be sent an email with instructions to be set up in the client portal, how to access the forms you need to fill out before your session, information about the cancellation policy, and instructions for the video platform you will use for your session. I typically use Zoom and email my clients their Zoom link the morning of their session. Not only is this a good reminder that they have a session today but it also is a great way to make sure we both end up in the correct Zoom room.
This is also something to expect with remote therapy, particularly in the first session or two: Connection issues! Sometimes the Zoom link doesn’t work or maybe you’re sent to the wrong room. Unfortunately, it happens all the time. That is why it is so important to be in contact with your therapist if you have issues with connecting. We don’t know there is a problem unless you communicate it to us! Have patience because we will work through the connection issues together and it will be resolved. Also, a good piece of advice to remember is to always check your spam folder if you expect an email and don’t receive it. The amount of times my emails have gone to spam first is frustrating for both of us.
The session itself will be pretty typical, with just two people having a conversation together for 50 minutes. Remote therapy can be just as helpful as in-person therapy, especially if you find that you struggle to make the time for yourself to do so. It can also be helpful to be in your own space while having therapy if you are nervous about it. You can come as you are. I regularly have clients in their pajamas or one of those giant sweatshirt blankets. As long as you’re clothed and comfy, I don’t care what you’re wearing or what you look like. In-person therapy is another great option. If that works better for you, that’s okay! However, if you have been struggling to access therapy in your area or struggling with the motivation to leave your house to do it, think about giving remote therapy a try. It can be an incredible step in your healing journey.