Beyond the Screen

Tips for Online Therapy

Amongst the many changes and challenges we have been facing in 2020 in order to help reduce the transmission of COVID-19 has been the advent of “social distancing”. In order to observe this health principle at LifeConnect, we have offered all our clients and patients the option of online therapy, whether by phone, FaceTime, Skype or Zoom.

Some people have welcomed and embraced this option to have therapy online, others have found this option really difficult, even while working from home. Here are a few tips to help make online psychology sessions and therapy more productive, easier and supportive. Specifically, to help you stay connected with your therapist and have continuity in your therapeutic process.

Let’s be clear, humans are essentially social, we generally love to interact and connect up with others, family, friends, work colleagues or through social, cultural and sporting activities. The therapy space is a very special, private, safe, confidential and intimate working space. Talking through the telephone or through the laptop screen can seemingly put a distance there and potentially erode the feeling of connectedness and being understood. Nevertheless, there are things we can do to help this style of therapeutic relationship work well.

  • Take time to prepare for your therapy session and turn up for your session just as you would in the therapy room.

  • Make sure there are no distractions, turn off any devices that may disturb or attend to anything else which could interrupt you.

  • Ensure you create your own ‘therapy space’, find a quiet and private space where you can speak freely.

  • Take a little bit extra effort to ‘be present’ for your session.

  • During the session make sure you make eye contact with your therapist as appropriate.

In my experience, having worked as a psychologist for over 30 years, it is possible with a little effort to go beyond the screen and really engage at a human level. This does take more conscious effort and can contribute to a richer therapy experience which is more valuable and productive for you. 

David Baldwin
Clinical Psychologist

Lonneke van der Laan