The way we deliver care has evolved—and telehealth has become an essential part of that evolution. Telehealth offers a meaningful opportunity to extend your reach, reduce barriers to care, and offer clients the flexibility they need. It can also offer you that same flexibility in return.
It’s a shift that invites us to think a little differently about where and how we work, and how we can continue to build meaningful connections from any distance. At Health Affiliates Maine, we believe that with some thoughtful choices and an open mind, telehealth can feel just as genuine and grounded as in-person care.
Creating Your Telehealth Space
Many clinicians find that the space they use for telehealth plays a big role in setting the tone for sessions, as well as in their own professional satisfaction. A telehealth space doesn’t have to be perfect. It simply needs to feel safe, private, and welcoming, both for you and for your clients.
Here’s what to prioritize when setting up your telehealth environment:
- Privacy First: Ensure your space allows for complete confidentiality with a door that closes. You may even want to consider soundproofing methods like a white noise machine outside your door, weather stripping, or thicker curtains.
- Reliable Technology: Invest in a stable internet connection, a quality webcam, and a headset with a microphone. In telehealth, technology is your bridge and should help form connection rather than disrupt it.
- HIPAA Compliance: Use secure meeting platforms designed for healthcare, like Doxy.me or Zoom for Healthcare. Protecting client information is a must.
- Personal Wellness: Set yourself up for physical comfort. Think ergonomic seating, good lighting for your eyes, and breaks between sessions.
Staying Connected, No Matter the Distance
Transitioning clinical skills to a screen doesn’t mean losing the personal connection, though it may mean adapting your approach with care and authenticity.
To provide effective telehealth services, consider these practices:
- Prepare Clients: Explain how sessions will work, what technology they’ll need, and how to set up a private space on their end. A little preparation can do a great deal in reducing anxiety.
- Create Connection: Warmth can still come through a screen. Gentle eye contact (looking into the camera), an open posture, and a friendly tone often go a long way toward building rapport.
- Normalize the Experience: If you or a client struggle with telehealth at first, normalize it with statements like, “It may feel a little different to meet this way, and that’s okay. We can still do good work together.”
- Observe Cues: Non-verbal communication might show up in new ways online. Pay closer attention to non-verbal cues like tone of voice, eye movement, and facial expressions.
- Set Clear Boundaries: Gently revisit guidelines about minimizing distractions and maintaining privacy, especially when working with clients from their own homes.
- Have a Backup Plan: Technology can fail. Many clinicians find it reassuring to have an agreed-upon plan, such as switching to a phone call if a video connection fails.
- Offer Yourself Compassion: We all experience tech hiccups, background noise, or a barking dog sometimes. Showing grace during these moments helps deepen the therapeutic connection, and it can even allow you the model flexibility and resilience for clients.
At Health Affiliates Maine, we know that therapy isn’t about perfection, rather it’s about connection. It’s about creating a space, virtual or physical, where healing can happen. It’s also about finding a community where you as a clinician can thrive. If you’d like to learn more about how we support private practice owners, visit our Become an Affiliate webpage here.
