What to Expect from the Clinicians at Great South Bay Therapy, LCSW PC

Online counseling, sometimes called telehealth, teletherapy, or virtual counseling, is a therapy approach that allows counselors to speak with clients using a HIPAA compliant video chat platform. While many people think of this as a new thing, versions of teletherapy have been used for more than two decades. In recent years, online counseling had started to become more popular, but many therapists started offering teletherapy sessions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. While online counseling was immediately viewed as a good way to adjust to a difficult situation and continue to support our clients, many therapists (and our clients) were surprised to find that these sessions were also extremely effective. They also give us the opportunity to provide greater accessibility to individuals who live outside our immediate communities. If you’re interested in learning more about online counseling for New York residents at Great South Bay Therapy, we’d love to have the opportunity to tell you all about it.

Why Should I Consider Teletherapy?

While many therapists transitioned to offering more online therapy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, this therapy option can actually be beneficial in a variety of situations, including:

• Save time – even if you can find an hour for a therapy session into your schedule, adding a commute into the mix may leave you struggling to find the time. Online therapy gives you the ability to hold your sessions from anywhere, saving time and decreasing travel.
• Increase accessibility – if you live in an area that doesn’t have many therapy practices, it can be hard to find a therapist who meets your needs and is a good fit for you. Teletherapy gives you access to a greater number of counselors, so you can find the best one for you.
• Improve continuity – when your child suddenly gets sent home from school sick, your boss changes the time of your meeting at the last minute, or other life stuff happens, you canceled or rescheduled therapy sessions. With online sessions, you can keep your appointment without worrying about traveling to the office.
• Privacy – No need to tell anyone where you are going or how long you will be gone. No waiting rooms or shared public spaces. Online counseling offers additional layers of privacy from the comfort of your home or office.

Does Online Therapy Work Like In-Person Sessions?

Many of our clients worry that talking online won’t be as beneficial as meeting in the office, but once they start session using our video chat platform, they find it’s just as beneficial as traditional counseling in the practices. Studies support this as well. In fact, research indicates that people are more likely to consistently keep regular therapy sessions if online appointments are available, which means they are more likely to achieve their counseling goals. We know meeting with a therapist using a video chat platform can seem a little strange at first, but if you’re open to it, online sessions can provide positive results.

How Does Teletherapy Work?

Online counseling sessions are a lot like chatting with friends and family on Zoom, FaceTime, and other popular video call platforms. The only difference is that we use a secure, HIPAA compliant platform to protect your privacy. When you schedule an online appointment, we’ll provide you with specific login information. We recommend testing your link and connection at least 10 minutes before your appointment. To conduct the session, you’ll need a device that has an internet connection, video camera, microphone, and speakers. Smartphones, tablets, and most computers will work fine. If you have concerns, please don’t hesitate to ask one of our team members before your session. Once you get logged into your video chat session, you’ll be able to talk with your therapist like you would in the office. We do everything in our power to offer the same quality of service over our secure video chat platform that you would receive in our office.

Is Teletherapy Secure?

As professionals in the healthcare field, Great South Bay Therapy is held to the standards of the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act (HIPAA). This compliance standard means we take special steps to protect the privacy of our patients. This includes using a HIPAA compliant video chat platform for our teletherapy sessions. Additionally, our counselors will conduct the sessions in a secure area, on a private network, and using a device that is password protected and not shared with anyone else. We encourage our patients to password protect their phone, tablet, laptop, or other device used for the teletherapy session. We also recommend not sharing these devices. If you do share devices, make sure to log out of your session completely and don’t save passwords. Finally, unless it’s completely unavoidable, we don’t recommend conducting your session using a public Wi-Fi network.

We’re Here When You’re Ready

We understand that asking for help can feel like a big step, but we are so happy that you’re considering reaching out to us. When you’re ready, the Great South Bay Therapy team is here to help. We offer therapy services to help you achieve your individual goals, build better relationships, and increase your self-esteem and self-compassion. When you’re ready, we’re here for you. Don’t hesitate to reach out.