Great Expectations
Early research conducted during Covid indicates behavioral health services, via telehealth, are beneficial for individuals looking for support with discrete conditions, and not for those individuals in acute crisis. (If you think you are currently in an acute crisis, and need help immediately, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department for care.)
Noone would deny Covid as life’s game changer in countless ways, impacting everything from day-to-day task completion, to how we view the country, humanity and the world. That includes a significant change in access to healthcare, and the ways in which insurance providers have extended coverage to provide for such health services. This is a win for those seeking additional support during an unprecedented time in history.
According to the American Psychological Association’s 2021 COVID-19 Practitioner Survey, 96% of psychologists reported that telehealth is effective therapeutically, and 97% said that it should remain post-pandemic. “More clinicians practicing telehealth will lead to increased access to much-needed care. According to the survey, demand for psychological services has jumped over the past year.” Clay, R. A. (n.d.). Telehealth proves its worth. https://www.apa.org. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/01/special-telehealth-worth
Are you contemplating therapy but unsure about telehealth v. an office visit? It’s definitely a personal choice, but this blog can help get you oriented to expectations for process, therapist and client.
Whether you seek services in a physical office with a cozy couch, or via telehealth from home on your own cozy couch, therapy is always approached as a team sport. Yes, a mighty team of two, working in service of the client’s goals. The team approach works when trust has been established over time, and an alliance forms. Again, trust may take time to form, so prepare for a long game. From there, it’s a shared commitment to honesty, and a professional and appropriate relationship in the work. The best results come from time, willingness and consistency.
Tips on how to make the most of your therapeutic alliance:
Book your sessions on the same day, and at the same time each week, the same way you would schedule a standing work meeting, or your kid’s playdate. If it’s on the calendar, you’re regarding it as a priority, and an appointment not to be missed. Think of it as your training schedule.
Understand that therapy gets easier over time, but gets harder before it gets easier. Think of it as working your weaker muscles. We ignore the weaker muscles for a reason.
Emoting is required, and yes, there will be tears. Get ahead of it and grab a box of tissues or a roll of toilet paper and be prepared. Think of tears as pain leaving the body.
There will be a time when you believe your therapist is the devil, and you will want to quit therapy. Think of it this way - your partner therapist is there to push you to be your healthiest version of yourself and to help prepare you for life’s competitions. Your therapist is doing exactly what you came to therapy for. If you are feeling something in response to the work, therapy is working, and it deserves to be explored.
Tell your therapist when an approach is, or is not working. Tell your therapist if you need more or less of a push, a different treatment modality, to slow down or need referrals for additional services. Your therapist will assist you in navigating change and wants to hear your voice.
The Therapist’s Role
A therapist works hard to provide the highest level of care for each client. Your therapist is ethically required to make a diagnosis, create a treatment plan, track and measure progress and conduct assessments, as needed. Therapists take great pride in creating a safe, judgment- free space to work, by establishing safety protocols, sharing information, incorporating evidence-based treatment modalities, actively listening and providing feedback. A therapist will play the role of confidant, ally, advocate, supportive problem solver, boundary setter, time keeper and referral source. Your therapist will regard privacy, confidentiality and safety as essential to care.
The Client’s Role
The client’s role is to show up, reflect, recall, try, emote, share, examine, wonder, imagine, commit, navigate, address, regulate, cope, grow and change. Clients will learn and implement skills to make the change they want to see in their lives. It’s also the role of the client to communicate what they need from the alliance, enter with an open mind, respect and understanding of and for the process.
There’s an incredible amount of work being done in a therapeutic alliance and can be transformative if regarded properly.
Go Team! Therapists everywhere are rooting for you.
As always, this is not clinical or medical advice or treatment. Readers should seek professional help and consult with a doctor if you are concerned about your emotional well-being, health or safety. If you are in an acute crisis and need immediate help, dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
