Before in-person therapy ever happens, the space for therapy has already been prepared in a way that will give you the greatest confidentiality and make the environment as comfortable as possible. However, before online therapy can take place, YOU need to prepare your environment!
These are some things to consider:
- Is the space private?
- Can you lock the door? If not, will others who have access to the space respect your privacy and not enter the room?
- Can you/have you had a conversation with them? Were they receptive?
- Can others outside the room hear you talking? If so, can you create white noise with a fan or other form of background noise? (Preferably placed outside the doorway of the room you’re in)
- Consider using headphones or earbuds to keep your provider’s voice private and only audible to you.
If you have a hard time finding a confidential space, here are some examples that others have used. These are not ideal but should be considered secondary choices if an ideal setup is not available. If you use any of these, please make sure that the space is comfortable for you. Being comfortable is also highly important. Laundry Room; Walk-In-Closet; Basement; Attic; or, as a last resort, your car, parked in a safe, private spot. (We want to emphasize that private does not mean secluded. Please do make sure you are in a safe location.)
Technical Setup:
- A laptop or desktop computer is ideal — preferably the biggest screen size that you have available to you (that you can also have in a comfortable, confidential space)
- Whatever device you’re using, please make sure that the camera is about level with your eyes. It may require propping up your device or monitor on other items, such as books.
- Please make sure that your space is well-lit and doesn’t have a bright light source directly behind you.
- Be sure to move your computer as close as you can to your WiFi router (the device that creates the WiFi network). Or better yet — plug your laptop into the router with a cable!
- CLEAR YOUR INTERNET: Don’t have any other pages, sites, or programs running during your session. Close any unnecessary programs that use your Internet connection.
You will not be able to have a session when you are driving, you are with others in the same room or car, or when you are intoxicated to the point where you are not able to hold a conversation that is productive for therapy. Should any of these instances occur during the scheduled therapy time, your counselor will end the session, and you will be charged for the hour. You must be in Alabama (unless you are with the select few of our counselors who are licensed in a different state- this would be approved AHEAD of time). You must be in Alabama due to state law.