Finding Calm During a Global Pandemic

​The COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lives in unimaginable ways. Each day we are faced with uncertainty about the future, worries about our own and our loved ones’ health, and figuring out how to do daily life while maintaining distance from others. This is so hard, and it makes sense that many are struggling with anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
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Working with a therapist to sift through this pain and noise, can help you find calm in the midst of this turmoil. If you are struggling with waves of overwhelming anxiety or constant obsessions, I can help. I specialize in the treatment of anxiety, OCD, and related concerns, and I help children and adults find the courage and strength within themselves to face anxiety and find their way toward being their best self. Although at this time we will not be able to sit in the same room together (due to social distancing practices), engaging in online therapy can provide the help you are seeking.

Does Online Therapy Work? 

It’s true – seeing and hearing someone through a computer screen is not the same as sitting together in person. But for many, it is a close second. I have found that if we both treat and honor this virtual space just as we would an in-office session, we can be very successful in maintaining the connection that we feel in person. Studies have also shown that Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), a type of treatment that I specialize in, can be done effectively online.
 
With online therapy, there is no commute time, and some find it comforting to be able to meet from a cozy area in their own home. Understandably, some are concerned about their privacy during sessions. I utilize a private space to conduct my sessions and a HIPAA compliant online platform, RingCentral, for online sessions.

What Does an Online Therapy Session Look Like?

Just as with face-to-face therapy, we will first meet for an intake consultation to understand your main concerns and figure out if we’re a good fit. If we agree to work together, we will then set up a regular weekly time to “meet” weekly. I will send you a link that you will use each week to access our virtual sessions on RingCentral. I am licensed in Florida and see patients who reside in this state. For individuals living outside of Florida, laws vary by state in terms of telehealth practices, and I would need to consult the laws in your state to determine if we can work together.
To make the best of our online therapy session, it is recommended that you are in a quiet, comfortable, and private space. If you cannot think of a space like this that you can access, we can try to brainstorm some alternatives. With child patients, I am using different tools, such as a virtual whiteboard, to make sure that our sessions are as engaging as possible, even though we are working remotely.
 
If you are interested in starting online therapy, I’d be honored to join you on this journey.