First time participating in teletherapy? Here are some things you can expect.

Therapeutic alliance takes time. It’s okay to be a little nervous…

Okay, we have had our consultation call. You have decided to get started with me. What’s next?

1) I am going to create a profile for you in my electronic health record (Therapy Appointment). You will receive an email that prompts you to create a username and login, complete intake documentation, and schedule a first appointment (if I haven’t already scheduled one for you when we spoke).

2) At the time of your first session, and every session after, please make sure you are in a room by yourself where you can speak freely. We will utilize a HIPAA compliant telemedicine platform (Doxy.me). You will receive one link to this site and it will be the same link every time we meet. You must be in the state of MD at time of session due to my licensing board regulations. Please make sure that you have both video and audio available on the device that you are using.

3) During our first appointment together, I will review policies and procedures and then I will conduct a diagnostic evaluation. I will ask questions to explore reasons behind seeking treatment, gain background knowledge, support you in determining goals in our work together, and see what tools I can add to your toolbox to begin helping you find symptom relief.

4) After intake, some people find it helpful to come into sessions with a list of topics they would like to discuss. If that feels comforting to you, I recommend doing so. Also, know that it’s okay for there to be moments in which you are not sure what to say at that start of our time together. I am not judging you and- perhaps it comes with the territory of the occupation- am pretty good at asking questions.

I encourage anyone I talk to that is unsure about whether or not therapy is right for them to please come and sit with me for an hour. You do not have to come back, but if you find it useful come for a second session. We will go from there.