Find clarity, healing, and support from the comfort of your home

Online therapy in my counseling practice involves us meeting via video for counseling sessions. If you’ve ever joined a Zoom or Google Meet meeting, the process is very similar, except that we meet over a secure telehealth platform. For each session, you’ll be sent a link to a video session. It’s easy to join, just click the link and follow the prompts to check your sound and get started.

Several studies have shown that online therapy is equally effective as in-person therapy for most people. Often, the choice between the two comes down to your personal needs and preferences.

Online therapy offers convenience, allowing you to skip the stress of a commute to a therapy office. You can access a wider variety of therapists beyond those in driving distance, allowing you to find a therapist who meets your specific needs, or a therapist who’s not a part of your immediate community. Some people find they can relax and be more vulnerable during an online session. It can be a helpful option for people who are immunocompromised, lack transportation options, or experience chronic illness and find it easier to show up to an online appointment.

In-person therapy has its own advantages. As your therapist, I’m able to pick up on more body language and other subtle cues, and you’re able to get a sense of my physical presence during hard moments. You may find it helpful to come to a neutral space outside of your house. Some people find dealing with technology challenging and uncomfortable, and prefer to come in-person.

For a successful therapy session, you should find a quiet, private space where you can be alone and uninterrupted. Ensure you have a strong internet connection - perhaps meeting in an area of your house with the strongest signal, or using a wired connection.

Laptops and desktop computers are ideal for counseling because we are able to have a better visual of each other's body language and facial expressions on a larger screen, but your phone or a tablet can be used if needed. If you use a phone or tablet, please find a stable surface to prop up your device during the session. Headphones can be helpful for sound quality.

And finally, get comfortable - I’m not worried about how your house looks, and you’re welcome to wear comfy clothes!

Yes, online therapy is a private and confidential option for therapy. I use a HIPAA-compliant, secure telehealth platform. You’ll get a unique video link for each session that only you and I have access to. Some people feel that online therapy offers more privacy than in-person therapy since you can stay in the privacy of your own home, rather than coming to a public place.

Online therapy is suited for a variety of issues and challenges. Most of the issues I treat are well-suited for online therapy, including anxiety, depression, climate distress, self-esteem challenges, and body image concerns.

Online therapy is not ideal in some cases. If you have a high risk of suicide, I may recommend that we meet in person to allow me to better assist you and connect you to resources if needed. If you are dealing with severe mental health symptoms such as psychosis, severe depression, or dissociation, in-person therapy can be helpful to offer you my physical presence to allow you to feel more grounded and supported.

It’s important that you try to find as quiet or private a space as possible for your sessions so that our session is free from distractions and you can feel comfortable to fully share your thoughts and feelings.

If you’re unable to be completely alone, a few options may help. You can utilize headphones, which limit what others can hear. I recommend using a white noise machine to help muffle sounds and prevent others from being able to hear. You can ask others in your vicinity to wear headphones themselves during your session to add more privacy.

I do not recommend having sessions in any public space, as this is not conducive to a successful therapy session, and I will not have a session with you if you are driving for safety reasons.

Yes, online therapy has shown to be effective in responding to anxiety, depression, and stress. Through online therapy, we are able to examine your symptoms and stressors, explore your emotional experience, and identify ways to connect with what matters to you and a path forward.

Payments, forms, and scheduling are all handled on my secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. When you decide you’re ready to get started, I’ll send you a link to this platform where you’ll be invited to complete a few forms, provide payment information, and book a session on my calendar. It’s all fairly easy and intuitive to use, and I’m happy to guide you through any questions you have while using it.

This happens from time to time, and so I’m prepared for this to happen. We’ll first try to reconnect, and if we are unable to do that, we have a few options. My backup plan if the secure video platform I utilize is not connecting is to use Google Meet videoconferencing or have a phone session. If neither of those is possible, we can reschedule. I have rarely had to reschedule a session due to connection issues - usually, we can find a way to reconnect and continue.

Yes, I offer online therapy to any resident of Texas. My clients come from all over the state, and some find it helpful to work with a therapist who is not in their immediate community because of privacy concerns. Other clients live in a remote area and have a hard time finding a local therapist who specializes in their unique challenges, or who understands their point of view if they are part of the LGBTQ+ community, feminist, or climate change aware.