Online Therapy in English and German
Preparing For Your Online Therapy Journey
Learn what online therapy is, who it is for, the benefits, how to prepare for online therapy, and what to expect from your first online therapy session if you decide to work with me.
Introduction
Online therapy has gained popularity in recent years, offering individuals an accessible and flexible way to engage in therapeutic support. As my practice went 100% virtual during 2022, online therapy allowed my clients to experience equally if not more successful therapeutic support. Clients love that they can book sessions even if they are in a different city, save the time of traveling to an inperson meeting and are able to arrange regular sessions even with a very busy work schedule. From my perspective as a therapist it allowed me to stay accessible to my clients while having the flexibility required of a mother to two young children.
Online therapy refers to all psychotherapeutic interventions that take place virtually. This includes:
Video call sessions (e.g., via Zoom or Skype)
Phone sessions
Interventions through email or chat
Guided or unguided self-help programs
In my practice, I offer sessions through video calls, primarily using Zoom. This allows me to consider facial expressions, gestures, and body language as forms of communication, and to establish a solid therapeutic relationship, just as if we were meeting in person.
Is Online Therapy Effective?
Online therapy is the same individual 1:1 therapy sessions conducted over the internet. So instead of in-person visits at my therapy office pre-COVID-19, my clients now have their sessions from the comfort of their own home, a secluded spot in a park or any other private location of their choice. Online therapy has quickly become the preferred form of therapy for most of my clients as it offers the same level of professionalism, confidentiality, and effectiveness as traditional in-person therapy, while providing other conveniences and advantages.
Recent scientific research is showing that online therapy has the same positive effects as face-to-face therapy (Weinberg 2021, Ritvo et al. 2021, Andrews et al. 2018, Hubley et al. 2016).
Who Benefits From Online Therapy?
I work with busy professionals who struggle to keep weekly, in-person sessions, children who live in places requiring their parents to drive them to Zurich for therapy, mothers who have difficulties leaving their children at home for longer periods of time, or simply people who do not want their therapist choice to be bound geographically. Online therapy breaks down geographical barriers, making therapy more accessible to all. It is inclusive of diverse backgrounds, ages, and lifestyles.
Is online therapy appropriate for children? In my practice, I engage with girls aged 12 and older, as they generally possess well-developed verbal communication abilities and respond well to online therapy. However, certain forms of psychotherapy that are more geared towards younger children, like play therapy, have limitations when conducted online.
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The Benefits of Online Therapy
How to Prepare for Online Therapy?
As we've established all the benefits of online therapy, there are simple things you can do to make sure we get the most out of each online session together.
A stable and reliable internet connection (you can use a hotspot from your mobile phone if necessary)
Test your camera and microphone before the session
Ensure that you are in a quiet and comfortable place for the session
Test the link for the video call before the session and save the link (or the email) in an easily accessible location.
Write down some things that you would like to explore, thoughts and feelings that came up, stuff that was difficult or topics that came up since we last talked. Don’t feel pressured to always have something big to discuss, just try to tune in from time to time so we can work efficiently on what is truly important to you.
What Can I Expect in an Online Therapy Session With You?
There is no difference in approach or methods I use in online therapy compared to in-person meetings. Through secure video calls or messaging platforms, we will get to know each other and collaboratively work towards your goals. Starting therapy can seem daunting and is often uncomfortable but I am good at creating an atmosphere that makes it easy for you to share your thoughts.
Wether you chose to dive right in or take some time, first sessions are such a gift for me, because I know how much courage it takes for my clients to open up. It is important to me to be respectful of your boundaries and I am grateful for what you choose to share.
Besides simply getting to know each other, common questions for a first session are:
Why are you here?
Is there a reason you decided to come now?
What would you like to achieve at the end of our work together?
What are things you expect from me (your therapist) during these sessions?
What are the things you are worried about?
These are some of the usual opening questions and depending on your needs we take it from there.
I say we, because therapy is a common project and you get to decide what you talk about, which questions you want to answer and how fast we approach some of the more difficult topics.
Therapy is your safe space and everything you share is confidential.