You’ve signed the consent form and have your video session scheduled. Here are three important things to do before we meet.:
- Create a private, confidential space.
- Make sure your technological setup will work for telehealth.
- Close out extraneous websites, etc.
Creating a confidential space
- Is the space private?
- Can you lock the door?
- If not, will others who have access to the space respect your request for privacy and not enter the room?
- Can you/have you had a conversation with them?
- Were they receptive?
- If not, will others who have access to the space respect your request for privacy and not enter the room?
- Can others outside the room hear you talking?
- If so, can you create white noise with a fan or other form of background noise? (Preferably placed outside the doorway of the room you’re in)
- Consider using headphones or earbuds so that your provider’s voice is kept private and only you can hear it
If you have a hard time finding confidential space, some possible locations are below. These are not ideal, but should be considered secondary choices if an ideal setup is not available. If you use any of these, please make sure that the space is comfortable to you. Being comfortable is also highly important.
- Laundry Room
- Walk-In-Closet
- Basement
- Attic
- Actual last resort: a car parked in a safe, private spot. (Private does not mean secluded. Please make sure you are in a safe location.)
Technical setup
- An internet connection that is at least 10mbps
- A laptop or desktop computer are ideal — preferably the biggest screen size that you have available to you (that you can also have in a comfortable, confidential space)
- Any computer or tablet you use must have a webcam and speakers
- Computers must have 2.5GHz processor and 4 GB of RAM
- An updated operating system
- Whatever device you’re using, please make sure that the camera is about level with your eyes (this may require propping up your device or monitor on other items, such as books)
- Please make sure that you’re well lit and don’t have a bright light source directly behind you
- If possible, have a pair of headphones or earbuds ready for the sake of privacy and to help eliminate echo.
Clear your Internet
Be sure to move your computer as close as you can to your WiFi router (the box that makes the WiFi.) Or better yet — plug your computer into the router with a cable!
After that, you’ll want to close out of any programs you don’t need which use your Internet connection.
The first meeting
I will send an intake packet via my client portal. Though you do not have to complete all of the paperwork before our initial consultation, you must fill out and sign the documents before our first “official” therapy session.
At the beginning of our first meeting I will
- Give you my name, license type, and number
- Ask for your name and current location
- Discuss safety
- Plan for what happens if we get disconnected
- Discuss the potential risks of online sessions
- Harder for me to intervene in a crisis situation
- Technical failures or issues may interfere
- Hackers may be able to access your private information (I use a secure HIPAA compliant service, which greatly lessens this risk)
- Identify local resources
- Your nearest hospital
- 9-1-1
- For those in Alameda County, the Crisis Hotline (1-800-309-2131)
- Get an emergency contact and your permission to reach them if necessary
- Determine whether a video session is appropriate at this time
These are all steps to protect your safety and confidentiality as well as to follow ethical and legal guidelines for online therapy sessions. Some of these steps will be part of our online therapy agreement.
Subsequent meetings
Once we have a plan in place should a crisis arise, in our subsequent meetings I will check in about your current location, and do a quick check in to see if you may need support beyond a video session.