Online Counseling for Anxiety: Strategies to Improve Your Experience
Providing online counseling in Washington and Idaho allows me to provide effective therapy services with more flexibility and convenience to my clients.
These sessions can be done in your home, in your car during a lunch break, or even at the lake while on vacation!
But… Interruptions and technology problems will decrease your satisfaction with the experience.
Over the last several years of providing therapy virtually, I have learned a few things that help these sessions run smoothly. Read on if you want to get the most from your virtual therapy session.
Tips to Increase Connectivity during Virtual Counseling
There is nothing more frustrating than a poor connection during a therapy session. Delayed sound, freezing and glitching video interrupt the back and forth flow of conversation between you and your counselor. Making it difficult to lean into the process and get the most out of therapy.
Here are 7 tips for improving video quality for counseling sessions:
Wear headphones. This will reduce the amount of audio cut-out that is experienced by both you and your counselor. Headphones allow for a smoother flow of conversation. Also, with some devices (years and models) there will be a reverberation of sound if everyone isn’t wearing headphones.
Close all other browser windows or apps. Many of the web pages and apps you have open are taking up some of your connection speed. By closing all windows/apps you are maximizing the amount of bandwidth that is available to you for your session.
Reduce the number of people using your internet. Every person who is using your wifi will reduce the available bandwidth. This includes family members, friends or colleagues who may be playing streaming games, watching streaming television or conducting video conferences. This is your time - take all the bandwidth!
Use a newer device. It’s amazing how fast technology improves. You will have better picture and sound quality with a device that is within a few years old.
Cozy up with your router. You will have better connectivity the closer you are to your router/wifi device. This will be improved further if you connect to your router with a cable (as opposed to wirelessly).
Restart your device. Restarting your device from time to time helps to keep everything running more efficiently and speed up performance. It is recommended that you restart/reboot your device at least once per week.
Clear your cashe. Periodically clearing your browser cashe will improve video quality and help with re-buffering. Here are directions for how to do this on Google Chrome.
Tips to Increase Privacy during Virtual Counseling Sessions
Privacy and confidentiality are very important aspects of effective therapy. If you are worried that someone is going to overhear you or your counselor, it’s going to be difficult to be fully present and open.
Here are 4 suggestions for how to increase your privacy during virtual counseling sessions:
Request privacy. Let the people living with you know that you need quiet and privacy for the duration of your counseling session.
Use white noise. Place a fan or white noise machine outside the door of the room you will be in. The white noise confuses our brains, making it difficult for prying ears to comprehend what is being said.
Go where others aren’t. Sit in your car in a safe location or borrowing a friend’s home when they are away. You really can do therapy anywhere that is safe, private and allows for a strong internet connection. Get creative!
Wear headphones. Others wont be able to hear what your therapist is saying to you and you will be able to speak more softly.
