Graceful Therapy is committed to providing grace-filled therapy services to couples, families and individuals, particularly in the midst of these stressful and often scary times. We know that speaking with your therapist is an important part of your wellbeing and self-care and now offer our services over video and phone if meeting in person is not possible. Along with other efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19, we are offering Telehealth as a way to provide a safe way to meet without coming into contact with others and without having to leave the safety of your home.
Here are some Frequently Asked Questions you may have about Telehealth:
Q: What is Telehealth?
Through audio and video over the internet, you can meet with your clinician on-the-go from your desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device (iOS or Android)—it’s your choice! We will utilize our practice management software, Simple Practice, to schedule and conduct the session.
Telehealth allows us to connect anywhere with secure and convenient appointments that save you time and hassle. There’s no need to deal with traffic when you can schedule and attend your appointments directly from a laptop or mobile device.
Q: What equipment do I need?
To participate in Telehealth appointments from your home, you need one of the following devices:
1. Desktop computer with a webcam and speakers
2. Laptop computer with built-in webcam and speakers
3. Tablet device with built-in webcam and speakers
4. Smartphone (Note: To use a smartphone, you must first download Telehealth by SimplePractice - available for iOS or Android in the app store)
You will also need an internet connection that is at least 10mbps. For optimal results, a reliable, high- speed internet connection with a bandwidth of at least 10 mbps will minimize connection issues and provide the best quality.
Q: Is Telehealth as effective as a face-to-face session?
Yes! Research shows that telehealth is at least as effective as in-person sessions and offers benefits such as social distancing and the convenience of not having to leave the comfort of your own home.
Q. What should I do if I didn’t get the reminder with the link?
Contact me if you did not get the link so I can send it to you via email or secure messaging.
Q. What is SimplePractice?
SimplePractice, LLC is my practice management software for scheduling, case management, telehealth, and therapy notes. SimplePractice, LLC, uses a HIPAA compliant software so your information will be securely kept.
Q. What can I do to improve the quality of the connection?
If you live in an area with slow internet, this can really affect the speed of your connection. Here are some basic steps that can improve the overall quality:
•Use wired Ethernet instead of wifi whenever possible. Wifi will work, but you may experience a lag and interference, which can make your video and audio choppy. Wired internet will give you a much smoother, more consistent experience.
• Test your internet connection speed. Google provides an easy way to test your internet connection directly from the google homepage. Simply search: internet speed test. Click the blue button that says Run Speed Test. If it is under 10mbps and you’re using wifi, try using a wired internet connection or restarting your router.
•Close other programs. If you have several programs running in the background, closing them will almost certainly improve the quality. Also, make sure you’re not downloading any large files.
If you are unable to connect, please contact me as soon as possible to see if I can help you troubleshoot.
Q. Where’s the best place to do a video call?
When deciding the best place in your home, you will want to choose a space that is private and away from household members, coworkers, pets or any other potential distractions. Here are some additional recommendations:
• Adjust your light. Some small lighting tweaks that can have a huge impact include placing a lamp or other light source behind your monitor, pointed toward you. Also, make sure you don’t have too much light behind you. If you’re on a laptop, make sure the camera is at eye level and not pointing up at the ceiling lights, or down at the floor.
•Choose a quiet, private location. Identify a suitable room that is quiet, private, and free of distractions. To keep background noise to a minimum, close any doors and shut any windows.
Q. Is Telehealth private?
Just like a face-to-face appointment, your Telehealth visit will be private and confidential.