Tele-Counseling

I offer HIPAA compliant online video therapy for people I have met with face-to-face who can no longer make it to the office!

Why Virtual Behavioral Health?

Virtual behavioral health is about more than convenience – it is about getting members the care that they need when they need it, or the care they are afraid to seek in person due to social stigma. It helps address barriers to access, stigma, and time constraints typically associated with mental health services.

Virtual behavioral health can provide expanded access to services, more efficient delivery of services, and also potential cost savings. • Access to mental health care can be increased for all patients but especially for individuals with multiple chronic health conditions, those with severe illness and disability, and underserved populations in rural and remote areas. • Virtual visits can provide added comfort to patients who otherwise might be fearful and resistant to meet face-to-face in a clinic. • Counseling and intervention services can be delivered more quickly via teleconferencing sessions versus on-site appointments that may take longer to arrange. • Virtual visits are a cost-effective way to engage with patients and deliver care anywhere, anytime while reducing administrative costs for the provider and travel costs for the patient.   • Virtual behavioral health visits can be used to conduct psychiatric consultations to triage cases and help reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations by diverting clients to less costly forms of care.

Don't have an account?
Please fill out the form below with your Name, Email Address and Phone Number and I will reach out to you. Once we have established contact I will create your account and you will receive a followup email to complete the account setup.

The account setup must be completed before you can attend a video session.

TELEHEALTH-CONSENT

If you, as the client, elect to participate in tele-counseling services with me, you understand and agree to the following: 

• In person counseling is preferable, if at all possible.
• There are potential benefits and risks of video-conferencing that differ from in-person sessions, such as limits of the technology and the ability to use it, or limits to techniques and approaches that are less amenable to tele-counseling.
• Confidentiality will be maintained during tele-counseling. Sessions are not recorded without your written permission.
• You will have the opportunity to discuss the use of the technology with your therapist and have your questions answered.
• You need to have appropriate devices and connections from your end to make tele-counseling effective. For video sessions, this includes a camera, microphone, and speaker (built-in, or plugged in and activated) and a reliable, sufficiently-fast, secure internet connection (not a public WiFi). A headset is recommended for best audio and privacy, but not required.
• It is important to be in a quiet, private space that is free of distractions. You and your therapist will agree to immediately stop your conversation should you be interrupted, until privacy can be regained.
• Honor your time commitment for sessions as if you were meeting in person. Missed or late-starting tele-counseling appointments will be managed in the same way as if it were in person.
• You will agree with your therapist in advance regarding how to manage technical problems (disconnects, unusable audio/video, etc.), including payment terms in such instances.
• You will need to disclose at least one emergency contact and the closest ER to your location, to be used in the event of a crisis situation.
• If you are a minor, we need the permission of your parent or legal guardian (and their contact information) for you to participate in tele-counseling. 
• Be sure to refer to your plan’s Summary of Benefits or call the Member Service number on your member ID card to confirm coverage details and cost-sharing. if they are not reimbursed, you are responsible for full payment.

• You or your therapist may deem, during the course of your counseling, that tele-counseling is not appropriate or effective for you. Your options will be discussed with you regarding resuming in-person counseling, postponing if appropriate until in-person counseling can be resumed, or referring. 

Are You Ready For Online Therapy?

1. Do you have a laptop, desktop PC or Mac which is 3 years old or newer?
   Older devices may struggle to run the program properly.
2. Is your space equipped with a modern internet connection that is reliable?
   Connecting directly to your router using an ethernet cable for wired internet is recommended though wireless networks can work fine as well.
3. Have you downloaded Chrome (especially good for android), or Firefox, Safari, Edge, Samsung to your computer to use as your internet browser? 
4. Do you have access to a working webcam?
   Most modern laptops have built in webcams which will work great for online therapy! If you have a desktop PC or Mac you may need to purchase and set up an external webcam.
5. Are you comfortable navigating computer software?
   The online portal is easy to navigate and does not require any training to use. However, those who find computers to be confusing or frustrating in general may not be a good fit for online therapy.

Looking for additional assistance with Tele-Counseling? 
Webcam and Microphone Test: Click Here