You want to go to therapy, but you don’t have the time to go into a therapy office every week
Getting mental health services is important to you, but you aren’t able to leave your home
Your relationship needs some work, but it’s hard for both you and your partner to get to a therapist’s office
It’s not always easy to find the time to get the emotional help you need. In fact, you can hardly make time to just take care for yourself. Work, family, school, chores eat away at your time. And, before you know it, there’s not much time left for you to take care of your needs. Carving out an hour a week for therapy might not seem like a lot of time, but add in time for travel and parking and it can sometimes feel like a burden.
For others, it can be physically hard to get to a counseling clinic, especially if you have a disability or health problems. Or, maybe you live in a rural area where getting to the nearest therapist can take half a day.
Perhaps, going to see a therapist makes you anxious. You might worry about running into someone you know or being seen at a the counseling clinic. While we have made strides to fight stigma against mental health treatment, it can still be hard to seek help.
Online Therapy in san francisco and across california Makes accessing Counseling Easy and Convenient
Online counseling, also known as telehealth, allows you to take care of your mental health needs from the comfort and privacy of your home. All you need is a private space where you can talk freely, any device equipped with a webcam (computer, tablet or smart phone), and a high speed internet connection.
How Effective is Online Therapy?
There is an increasing amount of research that shows that online therapy is as effective as in-person therapy. In fact, a study published by the Journal of Anxiety Disorders found that online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was just as effective as in-person therapy when treating people for anxiety and depression.
Is Online Therapy Suitable for Everyone?
Many people can benefit from working with a therapist online, especially if they are home bound or suffer from severe social anxiety. The convenience of online therapy together with potential time and cost savings can make it attractive to everyone. That said, not everyone enjoys meeting with their therapist online. So, it’s important to talk to your therapist about the benefits and drawbacks of online therapy to meet your unique needs. After an initial consultation, your therapist should be able to tell you whether he or she thinks online therapy can help.
What About Online Therapy for Couples?
Online therapy is being used more and more for couples seeking relationship help. It can be very helpful when busy couples do not have the time to get to a therapist’s office. However, there are some important considerations. For example, couples need to be together in a private space where each partner can turn to face the other while also being in view of the webcam. Sound quality is an important consideration because the therapist needs to be able to hear both partners clearly. Background noise, such as outside traffic, can make it difficult to hear so a quiet space is best.
How Does Online Therapy Work?
Just as with in-person therapy, there are strict guidelines in California regarding online therapy. To make sure that your privacy is protected, online therapy providers must use a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. At the start of each session, the therapist will need to confirm where you are located and will also need to know the location of the nearest hospital and local police department. It is your responsibility to make sure that you are in a room with acoustic privacy and a closing door. Try to avoid back lighting, which will make you hard to see, and minimize distractions, such as phone alerts and email notifications.
Working With Me Online
As a licensed clinical psychologist in the State of California, I am able to provide online therapy services to anyone who is resident in California. If you are not located in California, you will need to find a therapist licensed in your state.
I have received training in online therapy for individuals and couples, and I have been providing online sessions since 2017. I use secure, reliable, HIPAA-compliant video software, which requires no downloading and can be accessed from any device, including smart phone or tablet. A video link is sent to you 24 hours prior to each session and a convenient text reminder is sent 10 minutes prior to the session.
If you know that you need help but are hesitant about in-person sessions, please reach out to me to discuss whether online therapy could work for you. I offer online services for a wide variety of problems, including:
ADHD
work-related concerns
caregiver stress
LGBTQQ and identity issues
grief and loss
low self esteem
Please note that if you are having a severe mental health crisis, online therapy is not appropriate. If you are having suicidal thoughts, please seek help immediately by calling the National Suicide Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. If you are in Sonoma county, call the Sonoma County Psychiatric Emergency Services at (707) 576-8181. In San Francisco, call Psychiatric Emergency Services at (415) 206-3800
Begin online therapy in San Francisco, CA, and from anywhere in California:
You don’t have to live with the challenges you’re having. Mental health support is available. Now, you can get counseling from the comfort of your home as long as you are physically located in California.
To begin online therapy in California, follow these steps:
Contact me to set up a free 15 minute phone consultation
Meet with me online using my secure video platform for your initial appointment
Begin online therapy to learn new ways to overcome your challenges and get back to living the life you want
OTHER Therapy SERVICES OFFERED BY COLIN BAPTIE, PSY.D:
I offer a variety of counseling services in my therapy practice, including depression treatment, anxiety treatment, LGTBQ support and counseling, grief counseling, couples counseling and marriage therapy. Contact me to learn more about the many ways I can help you.