Yes! You must meet all of the following criteria in order for us to work together:
1. You are located California: If not, you are not eligible for remote treatment. Due to the way that the process of psychologists and therapists are regulated, we can only offer remote treatment in states where our clinicians are licensed to practice (California). This is true even for video-conference-based services, such as online EMDR therapy. If you are located in California, or a foreign country where psychological regulations don’t apply, you may be eligible for online psychotherapy or another other type of remote treatment. Keep reading to see if you meet the remaining criteria…
2. Your symptoms be addressed appropriately via remote treatment: Not all symptoms can be addressed appropriately via online therapy. For example, if you are in a crisis, if you are abusing drugs or alcohol, if you are thinking of harming yourself or others, online therapy is not the best fit for you. Online therapy allows clinicians to easily do some types of treatment but not others, which may limit our ability to help you. Thus, if your treatment is likely to require a significant portion in-person, face-to-face interaction that cannot be replicated via online/telephone-based options, you are not eligible for remote treatment. If your symptoms would be expected to respond to remote treatment, you may be eligible for online therapy.
3. Our clinicians determine that he/she can provide you with the best treatment possible for your concerns and that it is in your best interest to receive services remotely: Every situation is different, and sometimes it is in a patient’s best interest to refer patients out to work with another provider (even if that provider is not a specialist). As such, eligibility for online therapy or another other type of remote service is ultimately at each clinician’s discretion.
4. You have access to a computer with a webcam, ipad or tablet, or a smartphone and you have internet access fast enough to stream video: One of the wonderful things about online therapy is that you are able to participate in your therapy session wherever you feel comfortable and free of distractions or interruptions. As long as you have an internet connection, and a computer, smartphone, or tablet, you’re all set! We do encourage people to think about their own privacy and confidentiality when choosing when and where to hold sessions, so keep that in mind when you’re making that decision.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes. As such, I am committed to the highest quality of compassionate care.
Please reach out for further accommodations.
