What to Expect When Starting Online Anxiety Therapy in California—Anxiety Therapy San Francisco

While starting therapy can be nervewracking at any time, many people are not sure what to expect when starting online anxiety therapy.   An online format for therapy, while just as effective as in-person therapy, may be a bit different from what people imagine traditional therapy might be.  Nevermind the fact that there is no couch (also not usually present in traditional therapy), there are also certain parameters for therapy that may be a bit different.  The following are a few things to expect when starting online anxiety therapy in California.

1)    Your prospective therapist will have an initial phonecall or telehealth appointment to get to know you and for you to find out if you two are a good fit.

This phonecall will likely be brief, 15-20 minutes, and is not a mini-therapy session but more of an assessment on whether you and the therapist will work well together and for you to share your symptoms and goals for therapy.

2)     Your therapist will set you up on an online platform (Simplepractice, etc.) that will allow you to fill out your intake forms and inform you of the therapy office’s policies.

 Just like any medical office visit, you will need to fill out paperwork but in this case it will be online through a secure client portal.  You will also receive a link either through the portal or via email to your first online session.  The platform your therapist uses should be HIPAA compliant and provide safeguards to protect your personal information and data. Feel free to ask questions about how your sessions are protected online.

 3)    For your first session, you should find a private space in your home (some clients even use their car) so that you feel free to share any information you would like with therapist.

 Privacy is an essential component of therapy and since you will not be going into an office, it is important for you to make sure you have a safe space to speak. The therapist will be in a private room and there should be provisions to protect your privacy and information online as well.

 4)    In your initial appointment, your therapist will get to know you and your goals, just as they would if you were meeting in person. 

 Take your time in getting to know your therapist and make sure to let them know the goals you would like to accomplish in therapy.  Remember that the therapist should make you feel comfortable and go at a pace that you feels appropriate to you. Also, make sure to have a good internet connection to facilitate this process.

 If you have any questions about starting online anxiety therapy or about anxiety therapy in San Francisco  or are having difficulty finding a therapist, please feel free to contact me, Lisa Manca, LPCC, BC-DMT, and I am happy to help you with resources or recommendations.