Meeting with your therapist virtually

If you’re looking for the flexibility and accessibility of teletherapy, we offer online video sessions for all of our patients. Please note that scheduling online sessions is only an option for patients located in New York.

Some advantages to online therapy

There are some advantages to meeting with your therapist online that we encourage you to think about.

  • You may have more flexibility in your schedule for online sessions at a time that matches your therapist’s availability

  • The ease of being able to add a weekly commitment to your schedule without having to factor in the commute

  • You live outside of the city in New York state

  • Not having to think about childcare or delegating responsibilities to attend a weekly appointment

  • If you have a physical limitation, either temporarily or ongoing (e.g., chronic pain, pregnancy/postpartum, injury) where your mobility or energy is unpredictable

 
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Common questions about online therapy sessions

Is teletherapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Research shows that teletherapy can be just as effective as in-person sessions. In fact, teletherapy has created more opportunities for people who couldn’t realistically commute to a therapist’s office every week or find a therapist nearby that specializes in what they need.

 
 

How do I know if teletherapy is right for me?

Teletherapy can take many practical stressors or barriers off your plate and lets you schedule your session from home or work. If you’ve noticed that you can be at ease and yourself on video calls just as you would in person, this is also a clue that online sessions could work for you. Overall, it’s hard to know how teletherapy feels until you try it. If you’re unsure, we encourage you to speak to your therapist and maybe consider a trial period.

Is teletherapy actually secure or private?

Yes! Our teletherapy sessions are always conducted on HIPAA-compliant online platforms.

Software that is “HIPAA-compliant” has built-in privacy and security safeguards to protect your personal information. Your therapist will inform you what secure platform they use for video sessions and provide instructions before your first session.

To make the most of your teletherapy sessions, we encourage you to have:

  • a private, uninterrupted space to talk

  • high-speed internet (it often helps to close tabs prior to your session that are actively streaming content)

  • good lighting and sound to promote clear video and sound

  • an agreed-upon back up plan in case technology fails (e.g., a preferred phone number)

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Do online sessions have to be on video? Can we talk by phone?

Yes, at this time our policy is to offer video sessions. We’ve found that being able to see each other helps with better attunement overall - which helps us work with you to the best of our ability.

Can you meet with anyone, anywhere via teletherapy?

No, teletherapy does have some limitations.

Mental health professionals at this time are licensed by state. Our psychologists are only licensed in New York state at this time and we cannot legally provide teletherapy across state lines. Again, please note that teletherapy is only an option for patients who are physically located in New York during the time of your session.

Is there anything else I should know before scheduling my sessions online?

If you’re planning to use out of network benefits for your therapy sessions, we encourage you to find out if your insurance plan covers teletherapy. Many plans do, but you should confirm before scheduling with your therapist. You should also ask if any of benefits you have for in-person sessions (e.g., number of sessions, reimbursement for late cancellation fees) differ from teletherapy sessions.

 

Have more questions? Please contact us.