Some clients are reluctant to try teletherapy.
You know that they would probably benefit from sticking with therapy, but you don’t know what to say.
If we treat this as a clinical issue, we can have a lot more success.
Imagine the discomfort your clients might have facing this abrupt and awkward change.
See if your reluctant clients will talk it over with you. Ask them about their concerns and brainstorm ways to address them. Offer empathy for their experience. Talk them through the process and guide them in getting set up.
See if you can be creative about alternatives.
Shorter sessions, reduced frequency, written support for a small fee.
Talk with them about how your goals and focus might change and offer recommendations about why you genuinely feel they would benefit from continuing therapy, even in this very different format.
Finally, check your own feelings about teletherapy.
If you are feeling reluctant yourself or unsure how to do it effectively, your clients will likely pick up on this. Work on developing a sense of confidence that you can support your clients effectively in these new formats.
Some clients won’t continue with therapy if they have to move to teletherapy for reasons ranging from discomfort to practical limitations.
We are serving our clients well by dropping in a little deeper with them to explore options before giving up.
I’m talking about these and many other teletherapy issues with my individual consultation clients and groups and over in the COVID OASIS for Therapists FB group.
What are your teletherapy questions and challenges?
I’d love to hear anything you’d like to share, so if you’d like, please get in touch.
© 2020 Annabelle Coote
This article is intended for informational purposes only. It is not to be considered as legal, ethical, clinical, treatment planning, treatment recommendations, or any other business or clinical practice advice related to your work as a therapist.