Psychotherapy is suddenly moving online, an unfamiliar and scary place for some people. Because I spent decades as a radio broadcaster before becoming a therapist, distance communication feels like home to me.
Social media often seems to do more harm than good, especially when it comes to spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories. And more and more it feels as if it’s impossible to get someone’s full attention when you’re trying to have a deep conversation.
In some ways, online psychotherapy is the next best thing to being there, but in other ways it’s even better. Being able to speak directly into someone’s ear grants us a kind of intimacy that is not possible in our in-person relationships.
Technology offers us the gift of human connection that we need to survive. If we give some thought about how to best adapt it to our needs, we can be there for one another when we need it most.
I am now providing online psychotherapy to residents of New York state (more info here) and have started writing a series of posts for Psychology Today about teletherapy best practices. Part 1 (click here) explains why it is indeed important to wear earbuds. Stay tuned for future installments with ideas for how to make the teletherapy experience better for everyone.