A Beginner’s Guide to Online Therapy
Photo by Jornada Produtora on Unsplash
Online therapy can be a more accessible, convenient, and comfortable experience for many clients. Juniper enables you to connect with a therapist who is the right fit - not just located along your commute or near your home. Let’s dive in to learn more about online therapy at Juniper Wellness.
Is virtual psychotherapy right for me?
Great question! Virtual therapy offers many benefits, including:
Skip the commute! Online therapy saves time.
Convenient scheduling for busy people juggling many priorities - work, caregiving, relationships, and daily responsibilities.
Comfort of being in your own space. If you feel safe in your home and have privacy, you might prefer this over in-person sessions.
Ability to connect with a therapist who is a great fit, not just located nearby.
However, it isn’t the best fit for everyone. If you do not have privacy or feel unsafe in your home (physically, emotionally), you may not feel comfortable speaking openly and freely to a therapist in an online session. Some people may prefer the dynamic and connection of in-person sessions.
Book a free consultation with our Client Care Coordinator to discuss your counselling goals, learn more about our services, and get matched to a therapist.
Let’s talk logistics. Where do I meet my therapist?
At Juniper, we use a Canadian telehealth platform (JaneApp.com) designed for virtual health services, including psychotherapy. Luckily, our friends at Jane have a handy video guide and a blog post about online appointments!
About 30 minutes before your appointment, you will receive an email with a link to your video session. Click the link to join and your therapist will let you into the session when it begins. You can choose to do a video session or audio-only, depending on your preference and Internet speed.
3. Are virtual sessions secure and confidential?
Your privacy, confidentiality, and comfort are extremely important to us. At Juniper, we use a Canadian telehealth platform (JaneApp.com) specifically designed for virtual health services, including psychotherapy. No electronic platform can guarantee complete security, because it’s possible that a breach could occur due to circumstances beyond Juniper or your therapist’s control. However, telehealth platforms like Jane meet the highest standards of encryption and privacy. All of the Jane servers are located in Canada.
You can help protect the confidentiality of your session by using headphones, choosing a secure and private location, and scheduling sessions when you are alone and uninterrupted.
4. How can I prepare for a virtual therapy appointment?
We created the following tips for clients on how to prepare for a session:
Schedule free time after your session. Counselling can bring up many emotions, sometimes in unexpected ways. Avoid scheduling a virtual therapy session between work-from-home Zoom calls, without an extended break.
Choose a space in your home where you feel comfortable and have privacy to speak openly.
Gather any items you may wish to have on hand (water, tea, tissues) and plug in your device.
Use headphones with a microphone. This makes the sound quality much better and helps protect the confidentiality of your session.
Questions? Book a free consultation with our Client Care Coordinator to discuss your counselling goals, learn more about our services, and ask any questions you might have about online therapy.
