Getting Ready for Working Online with your therapist

By Video – Example Zoom, Skype, Video WhatsApp, Video Facetime

When you attend a face-to-face therapy appointment, the counsellor will do everything in their power to keep the environment safe, appropriate and confidential. Working online, this might need the client spending some time thinking about their own psychological safety and the environment in which they are going to work.

Here are some suggestions and tips to think about as you get ready for online therapy:

• Confidentiality and Privacy. Make sure you a have a good, private place to take the call where you won’t be interrupted for the duration of the appointment.
• Turn off your other electronics and pop-up reminders and news items – as these might distract you during the session. (Mobiles etc)
• You might want to access the best of the Wifi bandwidth available – so turn all items in the house to airplane mode (stop the kids watching Netflix whilst you are in therapy!)
• Pets in or pets out of the room?
• You will need to dress appropriately, so that you are keeping yourself modest and safe
• Your laptop, tablet or phone will need to be on a solid surface and not bounding around on a bed or soft surface on which you too are sitting – it makes the other person feel seasick when working with you.
• Be mindful that the therapist will see your environment – you might want to check photographs, pictures etc to ensure you are happy that these are being viewed.
• You might want to put a Do Not Disturb sign on your door as you work.
• Get yourself ready: tissues? Hot drink? Water? Your diary? Pen? Notebook?
• Comfortable chair with the room at the right temperature if possible.
• You may want to invest in a headset with earphones and microphone?
• Agree with the therapist who calls who?
• Agree with the therapist what happens if the call drops

By Phone

• All parties must check the identity of the person at the other end of the call.
• Is that your therapist? Is that the client?
• Silences during a phone call are natural and normal – don’t be intimidated or worried if there are moments of stillness and silence – your therapist will reassure you that they are still present
• Who is initiating the call and ringing whom?

Generally

• The client will need to provide an emergency contact and contact number if the call or video suddenly drops or if an emergency situation develops.
• Therapy is a unique and important space. You may want to consider how you will prepare yourself before and after the session. For example reserving some space and time to think, prepare before and reflect after with potentially journaling.