Telehealth Online Psychotherapy
Telehealth Online Therapy
We offer online therapy via two HIPAA compliant platforms: google MEET and Zoom.com that you can access online. Our telehealth sessions are tailored to meet the needs of all ages of clients and you can expect the same level of creative engagement in the digital platform as you would in our in-person office sessions. Our therapists expand the possibilities of therapy from the safety and comfort of your home. Research suggests that teletherapy is just as effective as in person sessions.
Live Chat and Texting Therapy
We are also offering g-chat, i-messages, and phone texting options for therapy when video therapy is not preferred or is not an option.
Telehealth with Children
When a child works online the therapist gets invited into the child's world where they can share their toys, their rooms, their favorite photos and more with the therapist in a manner that can increase the therapy bond and allow the child to be seen and understood. Our child therapists have lots of great ideas for online engagement including movement activities, screen sharing with active documents, music and, in fact, most of the tools we have available in the office. Our experience has shown that children who sometimes have difficulty maintaining attention in the art therapy room, are more able to stay focused when working online. Obviously, every child is different, but your family can expect that we will creatively and effectively meet your child where they are to help them with current life problems.
Preparing your child for a telehealth video session
1. Set your child up in private space if possible, such as in a room with the door closed.
2. Use a computer or ipad if possible and secure it so it does not move around or fall over.
3. Provide art materials and toys for your child (colored pencils, paper, crayons, stuffies, action figures, etc)
4. Your therapist will explain the features of ZOOM or google MEET, such as how to mute, chat and share a screen, when they meet with your child for their first session. Chat will be used if the child is not in a private space.
5. Consider placing a white noise machine or a phone with a White Noise app just OUTSIDE the door, to ensure sound privacy. The sounds must be on the side of the door where you do not want people to hear (not inside with your child).
Creative Teletherapy for Adults and Adolescents
Working online with a creative arts therapist is different from in-person therapy sessions, but can still be a rich and creative process. Client and therapist engagement can include talking, movement activities, screen sharing of artwork or editable documents, digital art software, and music. Like in-person talk therapy, online therapy involves forming a professional relationship with a therapist to help you with personal problems. Rather than giving you specific advice, a creative arts therapist serves as a skilled listener and observer who helps you clarify issues, discover wishes and explore feelings through both verbal and non-verbal means. With this improved understanding of the patterns and beliefs that inform how you live your life, you can more effectively make changes and resolve the problems that are causing you distress. In addition to being trained in clinical skills, creative arts therapists usually specialize in a specific form of creative expression, such as dance/movement, art, music, drama, or even poetry, video/photography.
TIPS FOR BETTER VIDEO THERAPY SESSIONS
1. Find a private space where you feel comfortable.
2. It is preferred for both the therapist and the client to sit in one place, rather than moving around during the call, as it can be disorienting to the viewer.
3. You may wish to wear headphones to increase privacy and sound quality.
4. Computers are best, but if you need to use your phone or tablet, please find a way to secure it during the session so that your hands are free to do art activities or movement, much as you would in the therapy room.
5. Consider placing a white noise machine or a phone with a White Noise app just OUTSIDE the door, to ensure sound privacy. The sounds must be on the side of the door where you do not want people to hear (not inside with you).
Our Therapists
All of our therapists are licensed to practice creative arts therapy in NY State (LCAT). This means that they have completed a nationally accredited, masters level training program, and have met the requirements for licensing in NY state. This license guarantees proper experience in practice and ethics of therapy. All of our therapists receive on-going supervision and continuing education to maintain the highest standards of care, and to keep abreast of the newest research and developments in our field. Our therapists specialize in a range of clinical issues, as well as a range of expressive modalities, such as art, music, drama, dance/movement, and video/photography.
Clients seeking a sliding scale fee may work with one of our creative arts therapists in training under supervision. Our therapists “in training” are graduate students in their final year of schooling. Our selection process for student therapists is comprehensive. These carefully selected new professionals are valued members of our clinical team. We appreciate their inquisitive, theoretically-grounded inquiries into the nature of human behavior and their passion for helping people be mentally healthy through the creative arts.
To schedule an appointment, email us at messages@nycreativetherapists.com