Should I Try Online Counseling?

by Kacee Tannenbaum May 26, 2020

Are you a new or expecting mom, who wants to try therapy for the first time, but you are scared to leave the house due to the coronavirus? I encourage you to take a few moments to meet Margaret. Margaret had the perfect birth and she was so in love with her baby. For the first 5 weeks after her baby was born, she felt proud of how well everything was going. Although worn down by night after night of interrupted sleep, she enjoyed her baby and wanted her 3-month maternity leave to last forever. But one night, instead of collapsing into sleep the minute her baby went down for the four-hour stretch of what she called “night,” she couldn’t fall asleep for 2 hours. The next night, even though she was exhausted, she tossed and turned for 3 hours, and only just fallen asleep when the baby woke for another bottle. The same thing happened for the next 2 nights. For the next few days, she worried about not going to sleep at night. Then, she began to worry about other things as well. She cried at the drop of a hat and became so anxious and sad that she lost all interest in food and all social activities. Margaret was afraid to leave the house with her new baby due to the coronavirus. She googled “online therapy” and decided to give it try because she knew that she needed extra support.

You, mama, may be wondering: I need to talk to someone, but I can’t leave my house. How do I get help? Online counseling is the answer.

What is Online Therapy, Online Counseling, or Telehealth? It’s an amazing resource that allows therapists to provide therapy through a live video connection via the internet on your computer or phone in the comfort of your own home. If you have ever used Skype on your computer or FaceTime on your phone, then you have used the same type of technology that Teletherapy uses. Teletherapy combines telecommunication technology to deliver professional and confidential services for client convenience. It is virtually a safe place through a screen. Online Therapy technology is HIPAA compliant, which means that the client’s privacy is protected and counseling sessions are confidential. Other types of Online therapy could be email, phone, and text, which all should be encrypted by a HIPAA compliant platform.

What are the benefits of Online Therapy?

You can conveniently attend a counseling session at the convenience of your own home. This means no driving to and from an office; less wear and tear on your car and no alternative transportation needed. Most importantly you get to bring your baby to your appointment. You can meet the needs of your baby while attending your appointment.
It reduces the overall cost and time of therapy.
You have the ability to expand your choice of a service provider.
Online therapists tend to have more availability, therefore this reduces the wait time for scheduling an appointment. You can schedule an appointment during your baby’s nap time.
Because of the Social Distancing component, Online counseling provides safe distance required during these unprecedented times without leaving you feeling isolated and disconnected.

What are the limitations of Online Therapy?

Technology might fail before or during the counseling session.
The therapist can not fully see you, your body language, or your non-verbals during the session. Therefore, the therapist may ask you more descriptive questions and ask you to describe feelings, thoughts, and actions more in detail.
A confidentiality breach could happen for various reasons.
Technology may limit the therapist’s ability to hear and understand all of what you are saying. Therefore, the therapist may ask for you to repeat something or ask more clarifying questions.

I know that this is a scary, unprecedented time if you are a new mom or an expecting mom. Every day is getting more and more overwhelming as the COV-19 pandemic is taking over our lives. This time brings fear and uncertainty and for some a heightened sense of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and stress. Plus, being pregnant or being a mom is HARD. It is important to recognize we are in this together and you are not alone. For the time being, Online Therapy is a wonderful solution for your therapy needs. This is the perfect opportunity for you to prioritize your mental health.

My office is open for Online counseling via phone or video. Please click here or text me at 954-800-0108 to schedule an appointment with me today. Talk to you soon!