How to Prepare for Online Therapy Sessions
As the pandemic has forced many therapists to switch to online therapy sessions, I have been using Google Meet to work with my clients who live far away. I have some experience with this mode of communication, and I want to share some tips on how to make it more effective and safe.
Before an online therapy session, many clients wonder if they need to do anything to prepare. I usually say no, but I do have some rules that I follow:
- The most important thing is to choose a suitable location for the session. It should be a place where you can be alone and undisturbed. If you have family members at home, ask them to leave or take care of the children. If that’s not an option, you can use your car as a private space. I know some online therapists might not like this idea, but I think it’s better to have a place where you can speak freely than to worry about being overheard.
- Avoid public places, such as cafes or parks, where there might be other people around. You don’t want to be interrupted or distracted by strangers when you are trying to open up and express your emotions. You need a place where you can relax and focus on the online therapy session.
- Try to stick to the same location and time for each session. This will help you create a routine and a sense of stability.
- Another thing to remember is to respect your therapist as a person. Dress appropriately, as you would for a face-to-face meeting. Don’t lie in bed while talking to your therapist. Show them that you appreciate their help.
- Find a place that you can associate with your online therapy, not with your daily activities. Don’t sit where you usually work, eat, or sleep. If you can, create a separate area, with a chair or a table, that you can use for your sessions.
- Have some napkins and water ready, in case you need them. But don’t eat or drink during the session, or get up to make tea. Psychotherapy is not about physical actions, but about mental processes. We want to explore and understand our desires and motivations, not act on them.
- Turn off all the devices that might make noise or distract you, such as laptops, watches, or tablets. Turn off the notifications and close the apps that you don’t need for the session. Make sure that nothing will interrupt or bother you. If you are using a phone, place it on a stand or a stable surface. Don’t hold it in your hands.
- Give yourself some time after the online therapy session to process what you have experienced. Don’t rush into doing other tasks right away. It’s better to have some time to walk by yourself, or to sit quietly. This will help you calm down and reflect on your feelings. You might want to revisit some memories that came up during the session.
- Check the quality of your connection before the online therapy session. This is especially important if you are using a new program or device. Test it by calling a friend and see if everything works well. Make sure that your internet connection is strong enough to support video and sound. Seeing each other is important, but hearing each other is even more crucial. Sometimes I ask clients to turn off the video if the connection is poor. This way, we can at least hear each other clearly, and that’s what matters most.
These are not hard and fast rules, but only suggestions to help you have a better experience. Remember that psychotherapy is a delicate and subtle process. You need to feel safe, stable, and cared for.
If you are interested in online therapy, you can visit this website to find a Qualified and Experienced Therapist who can help you with your issues.