Online Counseling & Telehealth FAQS
Individual Counseling & Therapy, Couples Therapy, & Marriage Counseling | Columbia, Mo
The Counseling Hub team fully recognizes that most people who come through our practice for individual counseling/therapy or couples counseling/therapy are looking for in-person services. We get it. At the same time, what we know about telehealth is that it’s as effective as in-person counseling, and effectiveness is really what we’re all about. The modality or way in which we receive services is important, but it’s more important that you, the client (or person seeking services) feels understood, seen, respected, and heard (in addition to confident in your clinician). And all of those things are absolutely achievable via telehealth.
What do you mean by “telehealth" counseling and therapy?
Great question and a quick answer. We mean video sessions, basically. The Counseling Hub can happily offer telehealth services in Columbia, MO and, technically, to anybody in the state of Missouri (which is cool!). Our main areas of focus are folks in and around the Columbia area.
Is it still confidential and private?
YES. Egads, yes. This is of the utmost importance and will absolutely be maintained with telehealth counseling and therapy. Super important question, for the record, and we’re happy to say that it’s a must for us. Just to be clear, confidentiality is the notion that everything happening in counseling/therapy stays between you and your clinician. There are exceptions to this. You’ll have them listed in your informed consent and this is completely standard across the board, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t say that some of the exceptions include intent to harm oneself or others, abuse of vulnerable populations, being subpoenaed by the court of law, and when working with minors. There’s more nuance in all of that, but that’s the gist of it.
What tools or equipment do I need for telehealth counseling and therapy?
You’ll need a laptop, desktop computer, tablet, or smart phone - basically, anything that has the capability of connecting via video and audio. By default, most of these things will have an internal camera and an internal microphone, so you won’t need to go out and purchase anything.
Other than that, you’ll need internet connection. Oh! And headphones are recommended, but not required. And that’s it!
Will I need to download anything?
Nope, there is nothing to download! Most of our counselors use the telehealth feature in the patient portal, TherapyPortal (this is where you complete your intake paperwork). You'll just need to be logged in to your portal account at the time of your session. Some of our counselors choose to use a HIPAA compliant version of Zoom or Google Meets instead. If this is the case, your counselor will inform you of this and will send you an email prior to your session with a link to join the video call.
What if technology starts acting wonky during my telehealth session?
The bane of our existence, right? As unbelievable as technology is, it doesn’t work effectively every time we need it to. So yes, this is a real possibility that we can’t dismiss or say, “don’t worry, it won’t happen that way!” Because it might.
Here’s what we can say.
We’ll adjust as needed when or if technology glitches occur. Seems lame, but it’s the truth. And adjusting as needed might mean changing platforms, using phones while the video is on and the audio is off on the computer, shifting to phones entirely with no video, or (worst case scenario) rescheduling the session. Truth be told, it doesn’t typically get so bad that we have to reschedule a session, but that’s always a possibility and we’d prefer to mention it here. Also, once we’re in the swing of things with this, glitches usually take place less frequently.
Won’t it feel weird to do counseling via video?
That’s a definite possibility, but we’d say it’s only “weird” in the beginning because it’s new. Ya know, that whole concept of familiarity being comfortable. Basically, once you’re accustomed to it and you and your clinician have a good therapeutic relationship established, it flows pretty naturally. It’s not uncommon that clients are surprised by the level of depth they can reach when they’re doing telehealth counseling and therapy. That’s what we’re striving for.
What if I don’t like it?
This is a fair question because, honestly, telehealth isn’t for everybody. If you don’t like it, then you can shift to in-person sessions. Easy as that! And if you’re not in an area where that’s possible (i.e., live two hours away), then we can help you find a referral closer to you so that you can still make that shift to in-person sessions! It’s more important to us that you find the right clinician to work with than it is that you force yourself to stick with telehealth if it’s not up your alley. And while we’re biased towards and love our team, we also recognize that we’re not the right fit for every person who comes through. No hard feelings - we promise!
*We’d also recommend giving it more than one session to see how it goes. We generally recommend three sessions for you and your clinician to really find your groove, and that holds true for telehealth work, as well. If you’re unsure about it even after that, then please let us know and we’ll try our best to help you get what you need!
How do I make sure my session goes as well as possible?
Great question. Here’s a few things you can do to set yourself up for success.
Treat it the same way you would an in-person session. Go to a quiet, private space and spend the time focusing on your session rather than surfing the web, checking your facebook/insta/snapchat/tinder/any-other-social-media-platform, or having a side conversation with your family or friends. We’d even recommend (::gasp::) closing out all of the other tabs that are open (if you’re on your computer)! Think about it this way - it’s your time with your clinician. Make the most of it in the same way you would in the office.
Get settled before you start the session. Go to the bathroom, get yourself a drink, put some slippers on - whatever you need or want to do to make yourself comfortable.
Make sure your internet connection is stable. Easier said than done, in some cases, but worth noting as it’s an important part of the telehealth process.
Be on time. I think that’s a given, but just in case it’s not, I’ve added it here.
Make sure your computer/tablet/laptop/phone is charged and ready to go.
Use headphones, if you have them (recommendation, not requirement). They reduce the likelihood of feedback (that squeaky, loud sound) and echoes (most people don’t want to hear themselves), and they also increase privacy. If, by chance, somebody is walking by your door while your clinician is talking, headphones completely stop the possibility of anybody else hearing what is specifically intended for you.
Be ready to dive in! If it’s not obvious from the above, the counseling and therapy you do via telehealth is just as effective as the work you’d do in person. In other words, get ready for some good work!
Sounds great, but I have one more question...
Perfect! Just email us directly or submit your question via our contact form and we’ll get back you asap. You can also give us a ring at 573-586-3204 and we’ll be sure to answer your questions or return your call if we miss it (make sure you leave a voicemail!). We love questions and are happy to answer any that come our way. If you’re ready to schedule, you can also click below and submit your information and we’ll get you started up asap. Happy counseling!