Online Psychotherapy FAQ
Online psychotherapy, also known as teletherapy, is a type of therapy that is delivered remotely via the internet. This is typically done through videoconferencing and allows individuals to receive therapy without having to visit the physical location of their therapist.
Online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy. It can be helpful for people who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to time constraints, health concerns, geographic, or mobility limitations.
There are a few key requirements for teletherapy sessions with one of our therapists. You will need a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, as well as a strong internet connection.
In order for your session to be safe and secure we’d work together to set up an account and download Spruce. If you’d rather not download anything we can also use Doxy.me–a telemedicine video conferencing web portal.
Your therapy session should be conducted from a state where your therapist is licensed in.
Teletherapy sessions are generally much more productive when you feel confident that you won’t be overheard or interrupted. We encourage you to be in a quiet, private space from which to engage in your session.
People who prefer therapy from home, people with privacy concerns, people with mobility issues, people with time constraints, and people who are immunocompromised or have other health concerns may prefer online therapy.
Online therapy should be conducted on a completely secure, confidential, HIPAA compliant platform. If this is not the case then your therapy session may not be private and secure.
Unlike Talkspace and BetterHelp, we don’t ONLY rely on state licensing boards for our hiring. State licensing is a MINIMUM requirement. But licenses alone don’t determine who is a good therapist or not. State licensing boards determine whether someone can be a therapist or not, but that doesn’t mean that they’re a talented therapist. We are selective in our hiring. We hire therapists who are are always looking to improve, who further their education, and we support their continued growth within our community of therapists.
We are not a mass market online therapy service. We do not provide messaging or chat-based therapy (which we consider inferior to face-to-face therapy). We are a locally owned, Washington, D.C.-based practice. There are no sign-up, subscription, or subscription cancellation fees. We do not pay actors or online influencers to promote our services. You get to pick from available therapists. If you are local, you may be able to see your therapist in person. Our therapists are held to a higher standard. We require them to be reliable, licensed, and to participate in ongoing education. We are not beholden to shareholders or Silicon Valley investors–our primary responsibility is your mental health.
