7 Tips to Help You Thrive with Teletherapy and Make It Your Own
Over the past few years, you may have heard more and more about teletherapy, a beneficial and accessible tool providing therapy and counseling services all over the world - all online or via phone! If you’ve been thinking about utilizing therapy on your healing journey, in today’s landscape you’ll likely encounter teletherapy in your experience.
What are the benefits of teletherapy?
Teletherapy is different from in-person therapy in one major way - sessions are simply held via the phone or using a video conferencing tool like Zoom. Here at Rock Creek Counseling, we love to use secure and private video conferencing with our clients!
Teletherapy allows us to prioritize health and social distancing measures while still providing our clients with face-to-face sessions.
Another benefit of teletherapy is that your location is entirely up to you and where you feel the most comfortable. Teletherapy allows for greater accessibility and ease and allows you to limit excursions like driving to and from sessions.
How to thrive with teletherapy and make the most of your sessions
While teletherapy is very similar to in-person counseling sessions, it may feel nerve-wracking to try a new or unfamiliar approach. We’ve put together a few ideas and tips to help you feel the most comfortable in your teletherapy sessions and to make the most of each session’s experience.
Pick a quiet, comfortable place and make it your own. Like we mentioned before, one of the great things about teletherapy is that you get to pick your location and setting. We suggest picking a quiet setting where you feel the most comfortable and can have some privacy as you begin your session.
You can even set up a “therapy space” in an area of your home where you’ll log on to your sessions and make it your own! Or, create a basket with your favorite things like a cozy throw blanket, a special mug used to drink tea or coffee during sessions, and a journal or a set of meditation beads.
Make sure your internet connection is stable and secure. Take a few minutes the day before your session to test out your setup and internet connection, like a test run. It also helps to get set up and ready to go about 10-15 minutes before your session on the day of.
Wear what makes you feel comfortable. Dress up if that makes you feel at your best, or wear your favorite worn sweatsuit! Whatever clothing makes you feel at ease and comfortable is just fine for your session.
Listen to meditative music before logging on. If you’re feeling anxious or nervous before logging on to your session, pause for a moment of meditation before opening your laptop. Play some meditation music or ambient noise like a sound machine and focus on your breath, in and out.
Journal throughout and afterward, or meditate. If you like to journal, keep one just for your therapy journey! Open it up before to pour out any thoughts you’d like to cover during your session, use it to take notes, and process afterward helps, if needed. Not a journaler? Bookend your session with a meditation exercise to help you enter into and exit the session with peace and gratitude.
Create a routine to help ready your mind and heart. Routines are like muscle memory for our actions, helping our mind ready itself for what’s coming next. On days you have sessions, try establishing a special morning routine that energizes and grounds you in feelings of peace, security and belief. You can even create mini-rituals or routines you practice moments before entering a session, like warming up a cup of coffee and tossing your favorite blanket in the dryer so it’s warm and fresh as you settle into your session!
Ask for privacy if needed. If you have roommates or family members in the same household, be sure to let them know in advance when you plan to have your teletherapy session. Ask for privacy, close your door and make sure you’re in a private space if that’s what makes you feel comfortable.
Are you ready for your first teletherapy session? Learn more about our teletherapy process and how we can help you!