Why Try Online Therapy?
There are many reasons people choose online counseling over traditional in-person therapy. Some people know this is what they are looking for, while others many not realize it’s an option of be aware of all the benefits. It can be helpful to know the terms, though. When talking about doing counseling over the internet, it’s often called telehealth, online therapy, or video counseling. There’s no one right term, so using any of these should get the same response from counselors.
Connect with a caring, Christian counselor anywhere in Oregon
Online therapy gives you options. Participating in online therapy (also referred to as Telehealth, video therapy or e-therapy) means that you can choose a therapist anywhere in the state of Oregon. While your local area may have few specialists, the state at a whole has many options for mental health services. If you’re looking for a Christian Counselor specifically, we invite you to consider participating in online Christian Counseling with us. Our Christian Counseling offices are physically located near Portland. However, through online counseling we now serve counseling clients everywhere from Salem to Hillsboro to Medford and even those who live in the most rural areas of the state.
Save time with online counseling
Video counseling saves time. Instead of driving to and from appointments, especially during traffic, you can stay in the comfort and privacy of your home, office, or even in the car. This can reduce the amount of time that therapy takes away from your day, making it easier to commit to for busy people.
Leave your fears behind
Another benefit of telehealth is that it makes psychotherapy more accessible for people with anxiety or social phobias. It can be a huge relief to not have to worry about running into someone you know in the waiting room!
Important Things To Consider For Online Therapy
While there are many positives about online counseling, there are several important things to consider before making the commitment. First, it’s vital to have a strong wifi signal and internet bandwidth. Since video counseling streams across your internet, it does send and receive more data. Also, if you have a lot of devices accessing the internet on your network, make sure those are not all active during your session to improve the quality of the video.
Next, your device matters. When the coronavirus pandemic happened in 2020, software platforms immediately began adjusting to make it as easy as possible for patients to use telehealth software. It’s a good idea to test your device before starting the session, or have a backup option in case something happens. If you use your mobile device, you may need to keep it plugged in as video can zap a battery in an hour session. You may also want to consider earbuds with a microphone in order to maximize your privacy.
Security: Critical for Online Counseling
With all this information passing across the internet, security is an important issue to consider. Most telehealth platforms are encrypted and secure, meaning they protect your information on both the sending and receiving end. Make sure your provider’s platform is HIPAA-compliant for maximum confidence. At Life Discovery Counseling Services, we love technology and make sure to protect your information as much as possible by using the most up-to-date products and services!
Lastly, you’ll want to make sure your insurance company and benefit plan cover telehealth services. Our Administrative Assistant can call and check for you before your first session. Just let your counselor know and we’ll take care of you. We want to make navigating insurance easy for you.
How Does Online Therapy Work?
Online counseling is very easy! All of our paperwork is electronic, and even scheduling appointments can be done on our website. Once you’ve scheduled with one of our clinicians, they will send you the paperwork electronically for you to fill out through our secure client portal online. It’s simple and only takes about 15-20 minutes to complete.
Your counselor will then email you a link where you will click to start the session. The link is specific to each clinician and they will admit you into their virtual office to start the appointment. This whole process happens within a matter of seconds and with only a few mouse clicks!
You’ll want to make sure your camera and microphone are working prior to the appointment. Also, close any other tabs on your web browser and ensure you have a good wireless signal in order to maximize the video quality.
It may be a little strange at first to meet with a counselor over the internet, and it does feel that way to us as well. We also know it can be a huge help for people to have this as an option so we’ll do our best to guide you through the process. If you’ve done any video conferencing with work, you’ll find that you get used to it and it can quickly become productive. That’s our goal! We’re in it together with you and want to make it as comfortable as possible.
Begin Online Therapy in Oregon
Our Clackamas and Hillsboro based counselors are excited to work with you, wherever you are in Oregon. Anxiety, stress, trauma, depression, and conflict do not have to rule your life. We can help you get back on track in a way that aligns with your faith and values. When you are ready to start online Christian counseling in Oregon, follow these simple steps:
- Learn about our therapy team in Hillsboro and our caring counselors in Clackamas
- Schedule an appointment with your preferred therapist, or contact us with questions
- Begin feeling more calm, confident, and peaceful, from the comfort of your home.
Other Mental Health Services at Life Discovery Counseling in Oregon
No matter what you want to cover in online therapy, we know that you may have more concerns to talk about. Or, you might know someone else who does. If you are in Clackamas, Happy Valley, Damascus, or Hillsboro, we can help you in person at one of our comfortable therapy clinics. Christian counseling is the cornerstone of our approach to therapy. Not only do we see adults, but children in counseling too. We also work with depression treatment, anxiety therapy, trauma therapy and PTSD treatment, relationship issues, marriage problems, and postpartum counseling. No matter where you are in the state, we can provide the support you need. Once you’re ready to start, we’re ready to meet you. Let’s connect!