4 Ways to Make Telehealth Psychology Work for You

With the increasing use of the internet and people’s confinement to their homes – both voluntary and circumstantial – telehealth therapy has opened up a new avenue for those wanting to seek mental and emotional help. Before we dive into all the ways you can make telehealth psychology successful for you, let’s take a look at what this particular form of therapy actually is.

Telehealth Psychology: What is it?

Telehealth psychology is a form of therapy conducted via video conferencing software that allows psychologists in Perth and their clients to virtually connect with one another. Whether you are seeking therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma counseling, or relationship issues, telehealth can be a great solution. Not only does this often remove barriers of set times and geographic location, but it also caters to those with ill physical health.

So, now that we have a basic grip on what telehealth psychology is, the question is how do you make it work for you? Well, we’ve got you covered!

Telehealth Therapy and Making it Work for You

Telehealth therapy is not rocket science, and as long as you put into practice some of the key ways to derive maximum benefit from it, there’s no reason why it should be a lesser choice than in-person therapy.

Here are our top suggestions:

Set a Time

Among the top benefits of psychology by telehealth is its flexibility in terms of time. However, while it may be a benefit, it can just as easily turn into a vice if taken unfair advantage of. It’s human nature to work better on a schedule, and the same goes for setting your therapy appointments.

Make sure to allocate a dedicated time slot for your sessions. Not only will this help you prepare, but the chances of you skipping are also reduced. And remember, choosing the right time is essential – so it’s best not to get into a telehealth session while you’re on the verge of sleep or running late for another activity. Give it its due time.

Be Familiar with the Technical

While telehealth appointments bring a lot of flexibility and increased accessibility, it may cause problems if you’re not used to the format. To ensure that your sessions go by smoothly, it’s best to take care of all the technical issues beforehand.

Here’s a quick technical checklist to keep handy:

• Have a stable internet connection
• Choose a device you’re comfortable with – it can be your phone, tablet, or laptop
• Know which videoconferencing software you’re going to use – Zoom, GoogleMeet, Skype – it’s really up to you. Some psychologists use Coviu which is specifically designed for telehealth therapy appointments
• Make sure your audio and video are working – it’s a good idea to have a test run where you can check these elements out

Set the Space

Psychologists’ offices are often designed to induce a sense of calm, and there’s no reason why the place you choose to take your virtual psychology session shouldn’t exude the same feeling. Some good tips are to take your session from a place that you’re familiar with and comfortable in.

Another thing that telehealth psychology brings due to its remote nature is that it can be combined with other calming activities such as painting or going for a walk. Here, too, it’s the space that is crucial to success. Surrounding yourself with objects that will calm you – whether it’s a hot cup of tea or your favorite pillow – can go a long way to easing you into the session.

Don’t Expect Everything to go Perfectly

This stands for even those of us who have become well-versed with taking in-person therapy. No matter your level of experience, telehealth therapy is going to be a different experience with its own set of wins and obstacles.

Connectivity issues, uncooperative devices, being unable to articulate yourself, or even being interrupted by something else in your surrounding are all possibilities that could – and do! – happen during telehealth therapy. In fact, they happen during any sort of virtual communication, and it’s okay!

The important thing is for you to embrace these hiccups as natural parts of the process, take them in stride and continue on your journey of wellness.

And remember, reaching out is always the best decision – virtual does not mean that you have to do it alone.