Important Virtual/Telehealth Information: Due to licensing laws, students must be physically located in Missouri or Kansas at the time of their appointment.
There is limited availability for virtual appointments with students located outside of Missouri and Kansas. Please contact the Counseling Center for more information.
Getting the Most Out of Your Teletherapy Appointment
While we are remote counseling services are convenient, meeting via video has its challenges compared to in-person appointments. We have found that some simple adjustments can be made to help make your teletherapy experience as much like the in-person experience of therapy as possible.
- Treat your online sessions as you would in-person sessions. Protect the time for therapy – this is your time to work on your goals and you will benefit most if you can be fully present. Don’t do other things during your session (like driving, texting, eating, or household work).
- To avoid technical difficulties, set up your device (computer/phone/tablet) a few minutes ahead of time.
- Adjust the angle and ensure that it won’t tip over or move, so that you aren’t distracted by adjusting it during your session.
- Attempt to keep your device on a flat, stable surface during the entire meeting as wobbly images can be visually distracting.
- Position your device so that your face is shown straight-on, as it would be in person.
- Make sure that you are in a private place, where no one else is present, your screen is not visible to others, and you won’t be overheard. You may want to use earbuds for more security. If you need a private space for your telehealth appointment, please let your counselor or front desk staff know in advance and we can reserve a room on campus for you.
- Please stay in one place during the session – i.e., don’t walk around or change locations. If possible, sit at a table, desk, or someplace comfortable like a couch; please do not lie in bed.
In general, treat your teletherapy session just as you would if it was in person. This will help you and your counselor connect and be able to work together effectively.
We hope these tips will help to make your experience with teletherapy a positive one!