DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THERAPY?

Can’t make it to someone's office and back and still have time to handle all your other life demands?

You have thought before that you wanted to start therapy,

but felt so many barriers to being able to get into an office for an appointment? 

Struggled to feel comfortable in a therapist's office before?

 Feeling like you can't really be vulnerable in a foreign space?

 

Telehealth therapy may be the answer to your problem. 

 

Online counseling services can be an ideal form of service delivery for many clients in lieu of traditional in-person sessions. ​

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HAVE QUESTIONS? 

The following are common questions we get about telehealth therapy and how it works to help you feel confidence going into sessions. 

• How does online therapy work?​​

  • Your therapists office will send you a link to setup a client portal. This portal is the platform used for your sessions. The portal is HIPPA compliant. On the day of your appointment, you will log in to a previously emailed link on a phone or laptop and have your session through there. If you use a phone, you will need to download an app to access the telehealth features. ​

• Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

  • Much research has been done, especially over the last few years, to determine if telehealth services were as effective as in-person. The research concluded that- YES - it is just as effective!

• What platforms are used for online therapy sessions?

  • Our practice uses a HIPAA compliant electronic health records platform called Simple Practice ​

• What if I have technical issues during a session?

  • We will attempt to troubleshoot with you as technical issues come up. ​

• Can I choose my therapist for online sessions?

  • At our practice, you are free to explore our therapists unique backgrounds a choose a therapist that you feel most aligned with to meet your goals. ​

• Are online therapy sessions confidential?

  • YES! All sessions are confidential in the same way in person sessions are. We ask all our clients to find private spaces for sessions to help ensure confidentiality on the part of our clients. ​

• How do I know if online therapy is right for me?

  • You should try online therapy first to really know if it is a good fit for you. Most of the time this form of therapy is best for clients who: have confidential spaces for sessions, have limited times for sessions (do telehealth is more convenient), like having sessions from home, feel comfortable with using technology regularly. ​

• What should I expect during my first online therapy session?

  • The first session is to go over practice policies and expectations for services and for the therapist to gather information and go over intake documents you completed prior to session. ​

• How do I prepare for an online therapy session?

  • ​If you plan to use your mobile phone, you will need to download the Simple Practice app to access the telehealth portal. For computers, there is no prep needed. ​​

• What types of issues can online therapy address?

  • Online therapy can be used to address a wide variety of issues. The issues not recommended are: serve or crisis intervention or mood disorders, severe eating disorders, borderline personality disorder, or those struggling with severe substance use. These issues would do better to be seen in person by a therapist. ​

• Is online therapy covered by insurance?

  • Our practice accepts only Cigna and Aetna for in network insurance providers​ and each plan a client has is unique. You can call and confirm if you have mental health benefits through your insurance provider. Most often the answer is yes. We are also in network with the following EAPs that are also covered for telehealth services: Lyra, CCA, Cigna and Aetna. 

• Can I switch therapists if I don't feel a connection?

  • Yes, you can switch to another provider within our practice if you should need to change provider. ​

• How often should I attend online therapy sessions?

  • We always recommend attending therapy on a weekly basis, but our office is flexible and work with our clients availability. ​

• Are there age restrictions for online therapy?

  • Yes, at our office, we only work with adults. We see clients 18+ years old. ​

• What if I live in a different country than my therapist?

  • We can ONLY work with clients who are residents of California and ARE IN CALIFORNIA AT THE TIME OF SESSION. ​