Shayna Fendley, LCSW
Coping mentally and emotionally using teletherapy during COVID-19
How did you spend your day today? Was it home in front of the computer or your smartphone, refreshing the latest news, wondering if you should even bother putting on daytime clothes? Was it going to a job you now fear, because it may put you in danger of getting sick? Was it trying to find the latest distraction or self-improvement project to take your mind off all the chaos?
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned all of our worlds upside-down. Our jobs have changed dramatically or disappeared altogether. We are separated from our family and friends. Our kids are home from school, and we have to figure out how to take the place of their highly qualified teachers with little more than a Google search and a prayer. Routines are shot. Germs are everywhere. Stress abounds.
We don’t know how to think or what to feel.
As a society, we are beginning to understand this intense uncertainty as grief. In a pre-pandemic world, we might look for a therapist to help us understand and cope with our experiences. But with the need for social distancing, we might think we have to wait until all of this is over before we start to pick up the pieces. Right?
Enter teletherapy- using a video platform to connect with a qualified therapist and get the help you need. If you’ve never had a video counseling session before, you may be skeptical of its benefits. Is it as good as in-person counseling? Will I be able to connect with my therapist? Am I tech-savvy enough to manage my appointment?
Teletherapy is a great solution during COVID-19
Yes, yes, and yes. The research is here on teletherapy, which shows us that it can be just as beneficial as a face-to-face session. During a video session, your therapist is focused entirely on you- how you are doing, how you are feeling, and how we are going to make things better in this moment. In fact, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is ideal for teletherapy — and for coping with a pandemic!–because it is present-focused and values-based. By focusing on what matters most to you, we can find ways to deal with difficult thoughts, feelings, and situations that try to get in the way.
How do I get started with teletherapy?
Getting started with teletherapy is so easy, especially with our online, HIPAA-safe platform. No advanced equipment is needed. You need a smartphone (or computer with a webcam, if you’re fancy) and a reliable wifi signal. Make sure you are in a private space with a door that closes. (We see our clients in our offices with the doors closed to ensure your privacy on our end).
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When you schedule a teletherapy appointment, you’ll receive a reminder email from our practice portal. Inside the email, you will see a link to your teletherapy session.
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Click on the link. If you are on a computer, you will be taken straight to the session. If you are on a smartphone, you will receive a prompt to download the Telehealth app. Download the app.
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Start your session and get some pandemic-focused skills to get you through all this.
Ready to get started? Have more questions? Call 501.408.3431 or schedule an appointment here. We would be honored to walk with you through COVID-19 and beyond.