Seeking help and adjusting to new methods of therapy are challenging. Virtual therapy raises more questions, for example, how personal is virtual therapy? Will my therapist be able to gauge my progress and/or problems the same way in person?
It is natural to have these questions, especially if you have never participated in any kind of therapy.
Virtual therapy allows you to be in the same location as your therapist via a secure, internet video connection. Because you have the freedom to join your session from any location, you are also free to avoid the inconvenience of traveling to your therapist’s office.
This may be especially appealing if you have not previously been motivated to seek professional help.
The more informed you are about your therapist’s methods and practices, the more comfortable you are likely to be seeking help.
What is virtual therapy like?
Many of the things that are typically discussed during traditional therapy are also discussed during online therapy. A few examples are listed here:
- Relationship troubles
- Death or loss
- Work or school stress
- Divorce
- Anxiety and depression
- Troubles coping with day to day life
- Family issues
- Psychological trauma
- Any personal concerns
Teletherapy requires the same skills you use during an in-person visit. You still engage in conversation, set goals, develop skills to manage your symptoms, and work through your emotions.
Many people are able to work through their issues more easily in a setting of their own choosing.
Prior to Your First Teletherapy Appointment
There are a number of things that happen behind the scenes during the lead up to your first online appointment.
After your appointment is scheduled, you will likely have some forms to complete. These may include your name, reason for seeking therapy, mental health and/or medical history, and personal information. It is important that you are honest and thorough when completing these forms.
Providing this information in advance gives your therapist a beginning understanding of your needs and concerns.
There will also be forms with information about the virtual appointment and/or directions to access the virtual meeting.
There are a few things to check to ensure you are prepared for your appointment.
Test your internet connectivity and check that your camera and microphone are functioning.
If you are able, use headphones to improve the session privacy.
Find the most comfortable place that is quiet and secluded so that you are not disturbed, and so that you feel you can talk about anything.
The goal is to create the right amount of privacy to feel you can talk about anything, not to achieve an ideal therapy environment.
What to Expect from Your First Online Therapy Session
Your first online therapy session will look a little different from your following sessions.
There won’t be a focus on solving your issues during this session, but more so on your therapist getting to know your situation and you getting to know their process.
There are a few things your therapist will cover during the start of your session. This includes, but is not limited to, their introductory remarks, how they operate, the rules of your sessions, and what to do if the internet connection is lost.
After your therapist has gone over all of this, they will begin covering areas that are of interest to them.
One area that your therapist will cover is why you are seeking therapy and what you have been feeling lately.
Your therapist may also cover areas such as your goals and what’s making you unhappy in your life.
There also may be areas that your therapist covers that require numbers. For example, your therapist may ask, “How long have you been feeling this way?”
You don’t need to have everything figured out to begin therapy.
Some people know the specific issues they want to discuss, and some people just know that they have an uneasy feeling.
Your Therapist Will Focus on the Overall Picture
Your therapist will explore many different areas of your life to build a holistic understanding of your situation.
This may include your personal relationships, your family, your education and/or work, your sleep and rest, the physical and emotional pressures in your life, your overall health and wellness, significant life events, and your prior experience with therapy.
There are no “off-limits” areas for your therapist to explore. You should not feel anxious or threatened by your therapist’s lines of questioning.
The more context your therapist has about your situation, the better able she or he will be to develop a comprehensive understanding about the reasons for your symptoms.
Often times, the symptoms you may be experiencing are a result of many factors. These factors may include your personal situation, work, family, school, relationships, and many other situations.
Your therapist is interested in the “whole” you. You should feel comfortable sharing the areas of your life that are most relevant to you.
You don’t have to share everything in the first session
Many people believe that in therapy you have to expose the deepest and darkest parts of yourself. While you are not expected to keep your most personal secrets, you will move at your own pace.
Trust is not something that you can just instantly hand over to someone, and your therapist understands that. That being said, your therapist is allowed to prompt you to help guide you along the way.
In many cases, you’ll have no problem delving into certain subject matters, and may need to take many sessions to address others. Either way, you’re doing what is right for you, and what you feel most comfortable with.
Therapists are fully aware that the first session is just the beginning. It lays the groundwork for what they hope will be a long and prosperous working relationship.
You can talk about your therapy goals
Expect to share the reasons that brought you to therapy during your first meeting.
You don’t have to come up with a finished product.
Some common starting points include: feeling more confident, working through your past to alleviate emotions tied to your past that you can’t seem to let go of, understanding your anxiety or other emotions, figuring out better ways to manage your stress, figuring out the reasons you act a certain way toward your family/friends/significant other, etc.
Your therapist is trained to assist you in creating more practical goals based on your general concerns and to adjust your goals as your therapy progresses.
Because of the nature of therapy, you may wish to focus on one main concern; however, as therapy progresses, other concerns may become apparent. This, too, is normal. Flexible, changing goals are part of the therapy process.
Online therapy is not for everyone, and many people have concerns about this mode of treatment. One of the biggest concerns people have is the personal nature of therapy and whether that will be lost online.
Will I Feel Comfortable with Online Therapy?
Typically, once people adjust to the format, they have few issues with the technology. Many people report the technology getting in the way very little.
It is important to remember that your therapist can’t see you in your entirety like they would in person, but they can see and hear you and will help you identify and gain understanding with your symptoms and your internal landscape.
It is important to remember that your therapist can’t see you in your entirety, like they would in person, but they can still help you along the way, identify and understand your symptoms.
Your environment, as opposed to your therapist’s, may provide a more comfortable setting and a safe space. There also may be less distractions and you may not feel as rushed.
There are other advantages to online therapy, particularly ease and convenience.
Because there is less of a barrier to entering therapy, you may want to consider online therapy.
What Should You Bring to Your First Session?
While going to therapy, there are a few things you may want to take with you.
You may want to take a notepad and write some things you may want to discuss.
It may also help to write down things like:
When your symptoms began
Things that make your symptoms better or worse
Questions you have for your therapist
Anything you wish to address and change.
You don’t have to follow a particular script during these sessions, you can just keep your notes to help you remember things you want to discuss or share with your therapist.
You can Interview Your Therapist, too
Therapy is a two-way street. You can expect your therapist to ask you plenty of questions during your sessions, but that doesn’t mean they’re not allowed to answer your questions as well. You’re allowed to ask your therapist questions during your sessions.
You can use your first meeting with a therapist to interview them a bit. You can come up with questions to assess their style and decide if you feel comfortable with them.
-How do you evaluate if a patient has improved?
-What kind of training and experience do you have?
-What is the frequency and length of your sessions?
-What can I expect to happen during a session?
-Is there anything you’d like me to do between sessions?
-Are you comfortable with the plan for this session?
As mentioned in the previous passage, the goal is for you to feel comfortable and respected during your session. You can expect to feel uncomfortable during parts of your session, but you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable or disrespected during the entire session.
How to benefit most from the online therapy session?
The main thing to know about therapy is that you do not have to be “good” at it for it to help. The fact that you are seeking it out and willing to participate shows that you are already engaged enough.
Try to explain what’s going on in your life in as much detail as you’re comfortable with. If something your therapist suggests doesn’t make sense or isn’t helpful, let her know.
If you run into either of those scenarios, therapy is not effective.
Giving yourself a few minutes to prepare before your session to think about what has happened since your last meeting can help your therapist understand the big picture. Taking a few minutes after your session to clear your mind can help you process your feelings.
Not all sessions will leave you feeling emotional burdened. Some will actually help you in that process.
Online Therapy Can Make the Support More Accessible
Accessibility is the main reason online therapy is a benefit.
People often put off therapy because they can’t figure out a way to fit it in. Sometimes, no matter how much you want it, you can’t find a way to fit it in.
Online therapy can be done from the comfort of your home, and often helps people in the areas where they need the most help.
If you feel lost or stuck, or if something is holding you back, and you think about therapy, often times online therapy can help.
Going Ahead with the First Step Toward Online Therapy
It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed by the thought of your first tele therapy session. You may feel like you need to have all your answers before your first session, or that you need a clear, concise plan of what you want to address during therapy. In truth, you just need a starting point.
We understand making the decision to reach out for help is a big step, and takes a great deal of courage. We want to commend you for that. Therapy via the internet allows you to receive counselling in the comfort of your own home and gives you the added privacy that traditional therapy lacks. Sometimes just making that first phone call to set up a therapy appointment can seem like the most difficult part.
Once you have made the decision to reach out for help, you no longer have to handle your problems by yourself. Your therapist will be able to help you with your issues and give you the means to cope.
