5 Easy-to-Follow Tips for Managing a Remote Therapy Practice Online
Introduction
Have you recently started providing therapyservices online or thinking about doing so? If so, you’re among the thousandsof licensed therapists in the United States that have recently started offeringonline therapy services in response to the coronavirus outbreak as a way toexpand their offline practice. Today’s licensed therapists are fully equippedto take their practice online independently or by providing services onexisting online therapy platforms like BetterHelp and similar online platformsthat provide a pre-built online therapeutic environment.
Tryingto decide which option is best for you? In this article, we provide fiveeasy-to-follow tips for managing your independent therapy practice online.
Tip #1 - Organize Your Online Practice
One of the most important things you can dowhen taking your therapy practice online is to get organized. Getting organizedmakes it easier for you to provide consistent and error-free therapy servicesfor your clients. When it comes to providing therapy services online, thereisn’t much difference in face-to-face visits and distance therapy options.
Keeping records, therapy notes, andmaintaining a good file-keeping systems are critical components of a successfulonline practice. The most noticeable difference is that while you and yourclients are physically sitting in the same room, you are still virtuallyconnected by sight and sound using distance therapy technologies like SMS textmessaging, video messaging, and other face-to-face video options like Skype orZoom.
Tip #2 - Collaborate with a Leading Online Therapy Platform
If the thought of creating, organizing, andmanaging an online therapy practice feels like too much for you, there areother options that make it easier to take your practice online. Many offlinetherapists are choosing to partner with leading online therapy providers likeBetterhelp, RegainUS, and Talkspace to expand or start their own independenttherapy practices online.
The benefits of partnering with top onlinetherapy platforms are limitless. Therapists who join platforms like Betterhelpgain access to a pre-built therapy scheduling, billing, and session managementtools instead of having to create and manage all of these features on your own.These out-of-the box solutions make it easy for new and transitioningtherapists to create and manage their own independent practices.
Tip #3 - Use Scheduling Apps and Tools to Manage Clients
As we mentioned in the previous section, amajor part of managing the online therapy process is scheduling, billing, andsession management. Use scheduling apps and tools to ensure a smooth experiencefor you and your online therapy clients. There is a wide variety of free andpaid tools that can help you manage your online therapy practice. Find apps forproductivity, time-management, and e-meetings available as free and paidoptions on the Google Play and App Stores. Time management and scheduling arecritical factors to account for when preparing your online therapy sessions.Make sure that you’re allowing enough time in-between sessions to close outprevious client notes, follow-ups, and take breaks for meals and lunches. Manyscheduling features are built into apps that make time management andscheduling easier to manage.
Tip #4 - Provide Clear Instructions To Clients
Once you’ve converted to a digital system, besure to explain your new process and procedures to your clients to preventissues. If possible, collect your client’s emails in advance and send a groupmessage with detailed information on your new virtual office policies andprocedures. Remember that not all of your clients are tech-savvy, so taking thetime to include step-by-step instructions, images, and screenshots will saveyou and your clients loads of time in technical support issues.
Tip#5 - Pace Yourself
The most important thing to remember whentransitioning to an online therapy practice is to pace yourself. There is alearning curve, so give yourself time and space to adjust to the new changes inyour practice. Once you’ve developed your new online system, you may find thatyou don’t want to go back to providing traditional face-to-face or in-officesessions.
Today’s therapists are finding freedom andflexibility in providing therapy services online from the comfort and privacyof their own homes. When choosing new software and applications to manage youronline practice, be sure to choose options that provide clear instructions andgood customer support options in case you need help or have questions.
Conclusion
Now that you’ve read our mini-guide, youshould feel confident in taking the next step to transition your practiceonline. Remember to consider all your options, choose the session managementoption that works best for you, and keep your clients informed along the way.If you follow the steps above, you’ll likely experience fewer issues withtechnical support and spend more time providing life-changing advice andsupport.