Let’s face it, once the pandemic hit and online everything became the norm, our world was forever changed.
Our culture changed in terms of offering many long-term shifts, such as hybrid or work-from-home jobs now becoming the norm. And while universities, entertainment, and many industries resumed pre-pandemic business as usual (thankfully), other areas of life now allow us to choose how to spend our time. If you want to see your doctor or a therapist virtually, you almost always can. It has been our experience that while many people initially requested in-person therapy appointments during the past year or two, many pivoted back to virtual appointments because of the ease & time-saving benefits. So we thought we’d share a few ideas on helping you know how to connect with your counselor, therapist, or medical provider with ease.
Don’t Overthink It:
Haha, easier said than done, right? Typically overthinking a few things is normal, and tends to happen when we are new to doing something or meeting someone. Given that mental health is so personal and can feel so vulnerable we find that the initial session is the most anxiety-provoking. While this may be your first introduction to virtual therapy, or simply just to this specific provider, it is not new for the person you are seeing. They have been doing virtual sessions since, and sometimes even before the pandemic changed how we do things. They should be skilled and able to help you feel at ease upon meeting them. This is actually a part of what you want to be looking for in general because therapy can be vulnerable and a little uncomfortable at times, so connecting with a provider who puts you at ease is essential.
Comfortable Setting:
Choose a location that best suits you and makes you feel at home so to speak. For some people, that is literally at home in your joggers & comfy tee shirt in your favorite chair. For others, they may opt to do therapy from in their car because it is often their second home and they are free from the listening ears of roommates or family members. And occasionally people do sessions from their office setting or an empty classroom on campus.
Choose a Private Setting:
This one can sometimes be obvious if you tend to be more private by nature, but often times it is overlooked. If you tend to be more of an open book, then you may be comfortable being in a more public place and feel okay if others may hear part of what you are sharing. While where you choose to have a session is ultimately up to you, we would still strongly encourage you to have full privacy from start to finish. We want you to feel free to share the full extent of your lived experiences and your feelings when they surface, and we’ve observed that if your roommates might be able to hear parts of what you are sharing or if you are watching the door of your classroom to make sure no one enters, it’s often time to settle into your feelings and experiences at a meaningful level. You can consider wearing headphones or earbuds if you feel your privacy may be interrupted as a safety measure, however, the best bet is full privacy in a room or location where no one can listen in or interrupt you.
Talk It Out:
Your counselor’s job is to help ensure that therapy is both beneficial to you and that the virtual platform is a good fit for you as well. Some people have reported that being in their home environment has made it easier to open up than being in an office setting. There is some research that suggests that we do lose some inhibition when in a virtual setting faster than we may in person. However, it is not a great fit for all. If you are finding it hard to connect or if you simply don’t like this approach, tell your therapist immediately. Together you can determine if there are things that can be done to improve the experience, or if you simply need to be connected to a therapist who sees you in person.
Your therapist should be willing to help you find a specialist who can see you in person and help you make that transition on a timeline that works for you. A good therapist will always want you to do what is very best for you! So if you have any worries or guilt, know that we are behind you and want you to get what YOU need, even when that is not working with us. If you are having tech difficulties, speak up immediately. A good internet connection is a must, so let us know so we can troubleshoot those immediately. While it is the provider's job to supply a HIPPA-compliant platform for your privacy, you will need to ensure you are connected to a secure internet network or streaming service. If you have questions or concerns about this, talk it out with your counselor as she/he/they should know what guidelines are best on this front.
Begin Working with An Online Therapist in Salt Lake City, UT
If you have questions if online therapy is a good fit for you, don’t hesitate to reach out. We will happily talk to you about your needs, questions, and concerns from our Salt Lake City-based practice. You can receive remote support from our team of caring therapists by following these simple steps:
Meet with a caring therapist
Start addressing the concerns affecting you most
Other Services Offered with Inside Wellness
We understand that you may experience more than one mental health concern at a time. This is why our team is happy to offer support with a variety of services including eating disorders, body image counseling, anxiety treatment, and online Therapy in Utah. Feel free to visit our blog for more helpful information today!