What is telehealth and what are its advantages?
Telehealth is also sometimes referred to as telemental health (TMH), telebehavioral health, distance counseling, or internet counseling, and it means that therapy sessions are done over the phone or with a video-conferencing app, similar to ones that many people have used to have appointments with their primary care doctor or to join work meetings since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
Although much of life has gotten back to normal now, many people still prefer these "virtual" rather than in-person appointments due to their convenience. Many people have busy schedules or just want to be in the comfort of their own home, no transportation or commute time is needed, and having a cold or experiencing inclement weather are no longer barriers.
What will we do and what can I expect?
Most of what we will do, of course, is talk. While it is nice to get to know each other, I will make sure our discussions are productive, whether we are exploring your past, focusing on changing current behavior, or just figuring out how you can cope with a tough time you might be going through now.
The length and frequency of our meetings will vary depending on your needs and preferences. Some people feel better after talking just a few times, while others might want support over a longer period of time.
As our relationship nears the end, we'll focus on "relapse prevention planning," which means coming up with a concrete idea of how you will maintain the positive changes you have made and how you might cope with potential future difficulties. This helps many people feel ready to have check-ins less often or to be completely on their own after therapy ends, but I do have an "open door" philosophy, meaning I am happy to meet with you again at any time if needed.
How do I prepare for a video or phone session?
You will want to read and understand your appointment instructions, which you can learn from the new client documents and initial communication with me. You should plan to be able to spend the duration of your appointment time in a quiet and private space, and you may want to try to access your first appointment about five minutes early in case you encounter any delays or problems.
Okay, so how do I get scheduled?
Include your e-mail address in the Appointment Request form, and a link to complete the forms in the client portal will be e-mailed to you. I will automatically receive notification once you have completed them, and then I will be in contact with you to arrange a day and time for our first meeting!
I'm looking forward to working with you!
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