Online Therapy
The Solution When You Can’t Attend In-Person Counseling Appointments
Can’t get to a therapist’s office for counseling? Online therapy is the answer!
Many reasons could prevent you from attending a counseling appointment in a therapist’s office. Maybe you have a transportation issue. Perhaps you need to stay home with a sick child. You might have a medical condition or recently underwent a surgery, and you shouldn’t leave your home for a period of time.
Online therapy is a great way to address parenting issues, relationship struggles, stress management and many other concerns that lead you to contact a therapist for counseling.
Sometimes, it might be the only way.
Meet with Your Counselor from the Comfort of Your Own Home or Office.
If you find that you can’t see a therapist in person, online therapy is a researched and valid method of seeing a trained counselor. It’s much like being with your therapist in-person.
Online therapy video sessions provide a safe and confidential way to see your therapist face-to-face and in real time. From the convenience of your home or other private location, you and/or your child, can meet with your counselor and address the issues that concern you.
What If I Don’t Have a Private Space for Online Therapy?
Having a private space to talk freely is sometimes a concern for clients. A little out-of-the-box thinking can help with finding the privacy needed for online therapy. Consider sitting in your car, settling into a private location in your basement, or going into a bedroom and lock the door so you can’t be interrupted. Even with a busy schedule at your office, you might consider closing the door and do online therapy. Feel free to call us for some other suggestions to help you find the privacy needed for your online therapy.
If finding a good time for online therapy is a concern, Parallel Paths therapy offers appointments during the daytime, evening, and possibly weekend hours to accommodate non-typical schedules.
Does Online Therapy Work?
Many therapy modalities are highly effective with online therapy, just as they are when you are sitting across from your therapist in their office. The only difference with online therapy is that you are interacting with each other over a computer or smartphone screen.
Counseling methods including Somatic Experiencing Therapy (SE) , Attachment-Focused Therapy, Play Therapy, Psycho-Education, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and more can be implemented with online therapy.
How Does Online Therapy Work?
First, you call or email Parallel Paths Therapy to set up an appointment time, just as you would if you were coming into an office.
Next, your therapist will send you a link via email to join a secure, web-based video session. At your appointment time, all you have to do is click the link and it will connect you to a virtual “Waiting Room.” Your therapist will invite you to join the session and direct you through the process from there.
There is nothing extra to download and super easy to use. Best of all, you can meet with your therapist while camped on your sofa or sitting at your kitchen table, or even propped against some pillows on the floor in your family room.
You don’t have to be a technology wizard to do online therapy. We understand that you might be a bit nervous about how it all works. Be assured that we will lead you each step of the way.
Most people find that it’s not difficult and they actually like online therapy. We encourage you to be give it try before deciding if it’s not for you. You can even request a short “test drive” if that makes you feel more comfortable with the process.
I’m concerned about finances during these uncertain times. I don’t think I can afford therapy right now, even online therapy.
Financial strain is more real than ever during the current COVID-19 disaster. Parallel Paths Therapy keeps prices as affordable as possible by offering sliding scale rates for sessions.
Call us and ask about options before deciding that you can’t afford online therapy at this time.
But what if I want to wait until the COVID-19 outbreak is over so I can schedule in-person sessions?
We understand the uncertain times we all find ourselves living through during this global outbreak. It’s hard to know how far in advance you can plan since no one knows for sure how long social distancing guidelines will remain effect. We encourage you to not put your counseling off until the world gets back to “normal.”
Now, more than ever, we recommend you make your mental and emotional well-being a priority, especially if you have a history of trauma. The stress of living through all the unknowns and fears around COVID-19 can trigger strong, implicit memories of overwhelming powerlessness. You may even find yourself feeling more anxious or irritable or wanting to disconnect and isolate. You might notice an increase or intensity in nightmares or flashbacks.
Living through the COVID-19 crisis is no different than living through a natural disaster (see our blog post “COVID-19…Trauma & Stress”). Without any warning, this current global pandemic has likely created a whole new slew of stressful issues for you: financial strain, job loss, being close quarters with a spouse or children or roommate, especially if you’re not used to spending extended time together, inability to see family and friends, anxiety over “flattening the curve,” and the list goes on and on. It can be helpful to explore ways with a therapist trained to help you find ways to resource and self-regulate these stressful and uncertain times.
This disaster has likely taken things from you too. Maybe it’s last few months of a high school senior year, a graduation ceremony, or a myriad of other one-in-lifetime events that aren’t going to happen for you or your loved one. Perhaps you were forced to postpone a wedding limit the gathering to celebrate the life and mourn the death of a loved one. around a loved. It too can be helpful to talk with a therapist who can help you find space to grieve losses suffered.
Contact us today. We’re here to help!
Call us at 616-239-2602, or visit our Contact Us page and complete the online form to be contacted for scheduling.