Online Therapy
If you live in Michigan and are interested in working with one of our therapists or wellness coaches online, no problem… we’ve got you covered! If you live out of state, we can also help you through coaching!
Online therapy can be as effective as meeting in person.
Online Therapy works the same way that in-person therapy does… usually even better, though!
We’ll still see each other face to face, just in our homes.
You are in your own space, so you may feel more comfortable and more at ease to open up.
There’s also quicker improvement and similar levels of overall satisfaction and comfort.
Some people have difficulty leaving the house because of their mental health and anxiety. Online therapy is more effective for combating these fears.
We can still feel and have experiences as if we were in the same room. Our feelings, emotions don’t change or sensations. Your therapist is still listening to you. It costs the same, and you are still communicating!
A therapist-client relationship is delicate…
… and you have to trust you are seeing the right provider. There may not be a provider in your area that you “click or trust.”
You can have more frequent contact with your therapist (chatting with them 1-2 times a week if needed).
It’s SO convenient! It can be as easy as sending a text. You don’t need to change your schedule.
You can express yourself in many ways and even show your therapist your dog or cat!
You can also start therapy right away. We can begin chatting mere hours or a few days after our initial intake session.
Going into an in-person therapy session for the first time is nerve-racking, but therapy online is easy for you. There’s no need to dress up, put on a show, or get ready to see us.
You will feel so submerged in our video chat that you will feel like you are in my office in-person.
If you have a poor internet connection or a lack of privacy, we can find a way for services to work over the phone instead of video. And you can speak to us from your car, or on your walk, etc.
When is online therapy not the right fit?
Frequent technology or internet glitches can interrupt and disrupt our session time, so if a reliable internet connection will be an issue, you’ll want to reconsider online therapy.
Also, if you can’t find a quiet or private area to attend online sessions, it’s best to reschedule your online session for a date and time when you know you’ll have the privacy and space you need.
If you’re having suicidal thoughts, please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.
There are so many good reasons to meet online…
Privacy and confidentiality…
Sessions are held via your smartphone or computer. You can be in a place where you feel most secure, and you won’t have to worry about running into someone you know in the waiting room. And like traditional therapy, our conversation remains secure through secure encryption.
Consistency…
Participating in therapy on a regular basis is critical for success. With online therapy, you don’t have to worry about missing an appointment due to inclement weather, traffic, or anything else when “life happens.”
Safety…
Many people might have health concerns related to being in a public setting. Online therapy allows you to remain in an environment where you don’t have to worry about your health.
Comfort…
For therapy to flow effectively, you need to be at ease in your environment. And there’s nothing more comfortable than being in your own place. Whether it’s at home, in the office, or in your backyard, you can have a productive session.
Flexibility and convenience…
Sometimes, when you go physically to a clinic near you, they match you with a therapist off the bat, and you have no say. Telehealth allows you to choose who you want to work with… without being restricted to seeing a therapist in your specific area.
Plus, since everything is done online, you can schedule sessions that fit in your life. You can even schedule your session at that perfect time–right in between work meetings or classes. Plus, you get to keep your commute time and gas money!
Openness…
Some clients have said that they feel better able to share “deep” things online—that they’re less inhibited than they might otherwise be if meeting in person.
Here’s what it looks like…
First, we’ll have our scheduling team call you to see how we can help you and find a time we can get you in for an intake appointment with your desired therapist on our team.
We will send you paperwork through our secure portal to fill out prior to our meeting. Everything is electronic to make it easy for you.
We’ll then send you a link before our appointment. That will let you join our meeting quickly and efficiently when the time comes. We’ll be meeting on a HIPAA-compliant platform. It’s private and secure, so you don’t have to worry about that!
You’ll be using your phone or computer so that we can video chat (face-to-face). It’ll be like we’re in person, but you get to talk from the comfort of your own space! At the end of our appointment, we’ll both log off.
For future sessions, you’ll get a new link each time! This link belongs to you and no one else.
Some other cool features of our online meeting space…
Any homework assignments (don’t worry, they are easy and only here to help you!) that we discuss can easily be shared online. If you feel comfortable sharing your “homework,” we encourage you to upload it to our secure portal to review it together.
If there is anything you’re working on between sessions, either of us can upload and share documents through the portal.
And if I want to walk with you through a worksheet, I can share my screen with you. We will give you awesome resources.
Making the most of online therapy…
Being in a private space without any distractions is crucial.
Whether it’s your car, house, or office, we can work with you as long as you feel comfortable. If others will be nearby while you are in therapy, ensure that you have adequate privacy prior to the session.
Psychotherapy is serious work, so you don’t want to be interrupted. Turn off notifications on your computer and phone once we are connected.
Also, since you’ll be in familiar surroundings, you might be tempted to be more casual than you might be in other social settings. That’s okay, but remind yourself before the session that you are here to do the meaningful work of positive change!
We understand that technology can be funky at times.
Reliable internet is important! Sometimes the internet can act up, so we ask that you be near a router and that no one else is streaming anything in the house. Things like video streaming or playing video games on another computer can slow down our connection.
I encourage clients to do a “test login” prior to our appointment—just to make sure that everything is working well on their side. You can check to make sure your mic, speakers, and video are working this way. We encourage our clients to use google chrome!
Also, before we connect, be sure to EXIT out of any programs that steal bandwidth from your connection. You have to QUIT them (don’t just minimize them out of view).
We might have to contend with dropped calls, frozen screens, or delays. We will do our best to fix it, but the phone is always an option if we can’t.
And if you want to be a real pro…
We encourage you to buy a journal so that you can take notes during session. Taking notes and reviewing them every day allows you to get the most benefit out of our sessions.
We also encourage you to do homework between sessions so that you’re constantly thriving.
Effective therapy is all about finding the right match…
Let’s be real: Not every therapist is the right fit… just like not every pair of pants is the right size. It’s important to connect with a therapist who can help you with your specific needs.
It takes time to find a therapist who vibes with you. We encourage you to shop around for a therapist who really clicks with you, just how the right pair of pants fits just right and makes you feel good!
This is your care, and you deserve to find the right help.
Are you ready to get the help you need?
As long as you live in Michigan, we can do online therapy with you. We’re here and ready to serve. If you live out of state, we can provide coaching. We specialize in holistic therapy, relationship therapy, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, CBT Therapy, DBT Therapy, EFT therapy, and EMDR therapy. Contact us today to learn more: (248) 962-3329.