Online Therapy

Are Health Concerns Or Other Issues Keeping Your Family From Therapy?

Is your family therapist’s office closed due to COVID-19? Did your child’s school or daycare center close, as well? If so, the resources and support systems you used to rely on may be out of reach, leaving you to handle your child’s emotional or behavioral issues on your own.

Are you worried about the pandemic’s psychological impact on your family? The boredom of being locked inside all day, the frustration of having to adjust to a new routine, and the fear of contracting the virus may be making your child’s anxiety, depression, or behavioral issues worse.

As a parent, are you struggling to cope with new responsibilities? If you’re suddenly without childcare, homeschooling for the first time, or trying to work remotely with kids in the house, you may be at your wit’s end. Just when your child most needs your help and support, you may also be in need of it yourself.

If you don’t want to go through this crisis alone, you don’t have to. Thanks to our online childcounseling, teen therapy, and parent skills therapy services, you or your child can talk to a therapist online from the safety and comfort of your home.

Many People Struggle To Access Mental Health Services

The need for distance-based healthcare services has existed since long before COVID-19 appeared.

Many people are so overscheduled that finding time to work on family mental health feels impossible.

This is especially true considering the time it takes to drive to and from therapy each week—sometimes through thick traffic and across far distances. Even parents with relatively open schedules might be unable to come in person due to bad weather, a physical ailment, or some other reason.

COVID-19 has highlighted and heightened the need for online counseling services. Parents adjusting to new responsibilities are under tremendous stress, elevating household tension. Children are generally very resilient, but the pandemic adds an extra layer of fear, stress, and worry to any issues they’re already dealing with. We’re not just facing a physical health crisis; we’re also facing a mental health crisis.

Online healthcare services have long been popular.1 With the appearance of COVID-19, they have now become essential. Online therapy takes some getting used to, but it can effectively bridge the gap between families and the mental health support they need.

How Does Online Therapy Work?

Rather than meeting in person, we will connect with you or your child electronically via a secure online web conferencing system. Our therapists utilize a variety of platforms, all of which are easy to use. Just click the link your therapist will provide you with to enter your secure online meeting room.

If you’ve ever used a platform like Skype or Zoom for video conferencing, you are already familiar with what a live web meeting feels like. As long as you have an internet connection, a camera/webcam, and an integrated microphone on your phone or computer, we’ll be able to see and hear each other during our online therapy sessions.

Due to COVID-19, the U.S. government has temporarily relaxed its requirement that online therapy be conducted via software that adheres to HIPAA privacy rules. As a result, you may have heard of therapists conducting Zoom or Skype therapy sessions. While technically legal, this practice may compromise client privacy. We recognize the importance of confidentiality to client success, so we conduct all sessions via secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms designed for the healthcare industry, including Doxy.me and TheraNest.

We will do everything we can to make sessions engaging and immersive. For younger children, we recognize that play therapy isn’t quite the same when conducted virtually. To ensure your child’s sessions are successful, we’ll advise you as to what kinds of toys to make available and how to position your webcam. Our team is accustomed to thinking on their feet, so we’re confident that we can overcome any obstacles that might arise.

The pandemic has forced us all to quickly adapt and learn as we go. As our team identifies new ways of making online sessions even more engaging and seamless, the quality of our services will continually improve. Many of us miss meeting with our clients in person, but we’re doing our best to make this a positive experience for everyone.

With schools closed, businesses shuttered, and the future uncertain, your world probably feels like it has been turned upside down. Online counseling can provide reliable and compassionate support to help your family get through this crisis and come out stronger on the other side.

As you explore the idea of online therapy, you may wonder. . .

Does online counseling really work?

Building a strong and trusting therapeutic relationship with a client is essential to good therapy. Listening closely and helping the client feel understood, validated, and supported is also critical. A good therapist can accomplish all of this regardless of how they communicate with a client—whether it be from the other side of the room or from across the state. Online therapy may even accelerate relationship-building in some cases; for example, some kids seem to feel more comfortable opening up when they are sitting at home in their pajamas vs. sitting in a therapist’s office.

Is online therapy covered by insurance?

Many insurance plans cover online therapy, so if you have health insurance, now is a great time to take advantage of your benefits. Our therapists provide in-network services through a variety of insurance companies, so we will likely be able to bill your insurance plan directly. We recommend you contact your insurance company to verify what’s covered. If you still have questions, please visit our insurance information page. You may also contact us to speak with our intake coordinator, who can help you figure out what your plan covers.

Do you offer support for parents, as well?

Yes, we do. Problems tend to trickle down in family systems, so you can support your child’s mental health by working on your own. Whether you are struggling with anxiety or depression or you just want to brush up on your parenting skills, we can help. Many of our therapists have experience working with adults and prefer a mixed caseload.

We’re Here For You And Your Family

Even if you’re not able to see a therapist in person, it’s still possible to get support for your family. Regardless of where you live in Georgia, our therapists are available to connect with you and your child. One of our therapists is also licensed in Minnesota. Contact us for a free, 20-minute phone consultation to find out whether online therapy might be a good option for you.

PROVIDING ONLINE & TELEHEALTH COUNSELING & THERAPY

Schedule a Free 20-minute Phone Consultation Today.

 

Sunshine Child & Family Counseling

Location:

4080 McGinnis Ferry Rd. Suite 1304
Alpharetta, Ga 30005

 

inquiry@sunshinechildcounseling.com

Tel: 678-740-3990
Fax: 844-903-4670

 

        

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