Being a therapist isn’t easy. Whether you specialize in couples therapy or treating adolescents with ADHD, working as a therapist demands a level of care and compassion that isn’t demanded of most professionals. If you’ve worked as a psychotherapist or psychiatrist for any length of time, you know this.
In the era of COVID-19, however, therapy has become even more challenging. Lockdowns and social distancing measures have meant that therapists must provide the same level of intimacy and best practices in a virtual setting. How can this be done? Thankfully, there is technology out there that aids in becoming a Teletherapist who provides counseling for complex issues online. Digital transformation may seem complex, but it’s very doable with the right tools. If you’re a counselor who is looking for advice on how to provide effective treatment in the era of a global pandemic, read on.
Use contact center software to your benefit.
You may not know this, but there is some incredible contact center technology out there these days, and therapists can use it to their benefit. After all, so much of your counseling will be done online or over a phone call now, and you need a way to use automation to keep things organized. Call center automation is carried out very smoothly now, and chatbots can automatically route calls to the right therapist in a flash. Plus, contact center software provides a counselor with insights and analytics. If that sounds like cold terminology, it’s not. Think of the empathy you can bring to your Teletherapy practice if you know more about your client’s experience. Saying the right thing at the right time is so much easier when you have all the right information right there, in your dashboard, at your fingertips.
Hone in on your niche.
One problem with Teletherapy is that it has broken down boundaries and made it challenging to find the right counselor for a specific need. Once, a patient might Google “gay couples counseling in New York” and use the results to find a local counselor. Now, though, the sky’s the limit. For example, gay and lesbian couples in New York can see a counselor in San Francisco just as easily. With that in mind, you should be clear about your specialties. If you’ve worked extensively with gay couples or members of the LGBTQ+ community, put that on the front page of your website. Sure, you might miss out on some potential straight couples as clients, but you’ll be much more attractive to gay and lesbian couples looking for a couples therapist as well as being inclusive and open to diversity. Making your niche very clear ensures that you reach folks who need your specialized services.
Don’t let the fear of tech inhibit your workflow.
Technology is hard, and it’s everywhere these days. Nevertheless, the best way to incorporate the language of tech into your natural language is to dive right into it. Don’t let the robots win. Take to social media or mobile apps to reach out to clients, and embrace the new ways of providing counseling that clinicians are using. It will be hard at first, but the first step is to try. You’ll see that you will overcome this unique challenge posed by the COVID-19 era, and you may just find new strengths if you show the vulnerability necessary to master a new platform.
It’s not an easy time to be a counselor, with human interaction so strictly inhibited. Nevertheless, it’s possible to make the best of it all. Take advantage of the tech tools at your disposal, make your niche very clear to prospective clients, and don’t be afraid to try new systems. The road to success as a Teletherapist starts with a single, brave first step.
