What is online counseling?
Simply put, online counseling (video therapy) is live therapy using video rather than going to a traditional office setting. It feels very similar to talking on Skype or FaceTime.
You can use a laptop, desktop, tablet, or smartphone. Sessions can occur anywhere you have access to the internet/Wifi, or strong cell service.
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I use the HIPAA* compliant and secure platform VidHealth to conduct encrypted online counseling sessions for complete privacy. You can access my secure waiting room here.
*HIPAA is the Healthcare Insurance Portability & Accountability Act that exists since 1996 to protect your confidential health information. All healthcare providers are bound by and expected to follow this law.
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Online counseling might be ideal for you if...
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Your days are too full to take time to travel to an office, park your car, get inside, check in, wait in the waiting room, have your session, make your payment, check out, return to your car, and then resume your day.
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You have work hours that make it hard to attend appointments during "business hours."
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You travel a lot around the state or internationally.
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You are tied to the home most days taking care of loved ones or working.
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You are anxious about the whole process of therapy and choosing your own environment for sessions might help you.
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You are depressed and lethargic and the effort of making it to an office is just too much to think about right now.
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You feel safer and more comfortable in your own environment.
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You don't have reliable transportation.
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You deal with frequent physical issues that make office visits difficult.
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You like the privacy of avoiding a public therapy office setting.
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You are looking for someone skilled who specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), emotion management, and life transitions, but your community doesn't have a lot to offer.
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You love the idea of flexibility and being on the cutting edge.
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You live outside the U.S. and want access to high caliber DBT, CBT or Gottman Method therapy.
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Online counseling with me might NOT be ideal for you if...
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You are feeling intensely suicidal, or have recently attempted suicide. You may benefit more from working with someone in your local area.
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You are in a living situation that includes violence from others. You may benefit more from working with someone in your local area with access to local resources.
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You are not comfortable with technology or you have some paranoia or worry thoughts about being spied on through technology.
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You will be more distressed by the use of technology than helped.
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You do not have access to either a laptop/desktop computer with a camera, or a tablet or a smartphone.
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You live in a state other than North Carolina. *Each state has different licensing laws; I may not be able to practice in your state or country.
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What about signing paperwork, getting resources & handouts and other good stuff?
The wonderful thing about technology is that we can accomplish nearly everything that a traditional office-based session would offer. No handshakes or hugs, though.
Necessary documents are signed via a secure e-signing service. We can also share resources, handouts and information back and forth in real time electronically during session or through the client therapy portal.
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We can utilize email and text with your understanding and written acknowledgment that these are not 100% HIPAA compliant modes of communication.
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My Training
I'm a Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH #1017) and have met national credentialing standards for providing video and phone counseling. BC-TMH providers must complete specialized training, pass an exam, and complete regular training in order to ethically and legally provide this cutting edge treatment.
The BC-TMH credential is granted by the Center for Credentialing & Education​ only to licensed professional counselors who are uniquely trained in the best practices for delivering counseling through technology.
BC-TMH providers have met nationally established criteria and adhere to the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Code of Ethics and Policy Regarding the Provision of Distance Professional Services.
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Your treatment, your way.
