Dear Reader,
I wanted to write a quick letter to you to alleviate any fears you may have about starting online counseling. I am an addiction counselor in Clearwater and as you know, trying to cope with the pandemic as well.
Our world has changed significantly in the past month. Counseling has turned to online or phone sessions. Counselors like me understand that many are fearful of trying this new format, who likes change anyways. I wanted to write a short letter to help alleviate any concerns you may have.
Telehealth also known as online counseling has been around for a while. It has been under-utilized but now has been placed in the forefront as the way to get counseling. Counselors are not in their offices right now and working from home.
Getting Started with Online Counseling
I wanted to give some basic information about how to get started with teletherapy. Actually it is very easy. Your counselor will email or text you an invite or link to the telehealth platform they are using such as Zoom or Doxy. These platforms are HIPPA compliant and secure.
I know you have read in the press lately about Zoom having issues with a breech in security. I am happy to report they initiated a password for each provider to use for sessions which has minimized the issue. To be honest, I guess I was one of the lucky ones because I never had a session compromised.
Once you connect the session by clicking the link or invite, you will see your therapist on the other end. It’s super easy. I recommend clients wear headphones or ear buds as it helps keep the conversation confidential, more focused, and easier to hear.
Tips for Online Counseling
I also recommend clients find a quiet place to talk. With kids home from school, that may mean taking a break talking in the car, sitting outside or in a quiet location inside the home while they play their video games or watch one of their shows.
Why Counseling is Important Right Now
Counseling is especially important at a time like this. We are all in the midst of experiencing something new, Covid-19 and stay at home orders. We have lost our normal and are trying to cope and adjust. Some people handle change easily and others struggle with it.
This time has caused an amplification of different types of stress such as financial stress if you have lost your job, family stress like all of sudden becoming the full time teacher/parent or loss of freedom to go where you want to with who you would like to as well as work stress if you are an essential worker.
This stress can increase feelings of grief/loss, anxiety, depression, anger and that is totally ok. However, learning to cope with those feelings in a healthy way is very important to your mental health. We are all in the same boat. Taking it one day or news conference at a time.
Online counseling is one of those tools that can help you learn to put healthy coping skills into place to help manage your symptoms and reduce conflicts in the home and reduce the risk of relapses to use of alcohol and drugs to self-medicate.
Counseling is a safe place to discuss how you are feeling because at times it can be difficult to discuss with family members because it just adds additional stress which will cause conflicts. Remember your family is going through this collective trauma as well.
How to Find an Online Counselor
So to wrap this up, I hope this letter finds you well and if you are struggling, please reach out to a counselor to help you. Many are accepting new clients. You can find them in a directory like Psychology Today.
When you go to Psychology Today, each counselor was asked to indicate how they were offering their services during the pandemic. It’s on their profile. Many indicate telehealth only at this time, accepting new clients or sliding fees so just check it out.
Or if you already have a counselor, please reach out to them to schedule a session. Many are offering sliding scales or shorter sessions to help with the financial aspect of counseling during the pandemic.
Also if you want to talk about this or having any questions please reach out to me here and book a free 15 min phone consultation. You are under no obligation to book a session but I can help you by answering any questions you may have.
Wishing you peace & serenity,
Cindy
Comments are closed.