Preparing for Your First Virtual Therapy Session

cbtbournemouth
Sep 9
2 min read

How to Prepare for Your First Virtual Therapy Session: A Brief Guide.

Yellow sofa and blue pillow in a teal room labeled "Rebecca Cox, Waiting Room." Desk with a computer in the adjacent room. — Rebecca's virtual therapy waiting room on Psychology Today

Hello and welcome! Taking the first step towards online therapy can feel both daughting and exciting. Lets ease some of that anxiety with a brief guide to things you can do in advance to help you feel safe, calm and prepared to enable you to ge the most from your therapy sessions.

1. Create a Safe, Calm, Quiet Safe Place:

Mid-century modern living room with dark red armchairs, gray walls, flowers on a gold table, framed art, and a shelf with books and decor.

Choose a space where you are able to focus and where you feel safe and calm. This could be a peaceful corner of your living room, a private spot in your garden, booking a private meeting room at work or even in your parked car. Ideally free from interruptions so you can really focus. Turn off Teams, disable those notifications and lets get together to focus on you and your needs.

2. Check internet connectivity, signal strength and log ins

Oval device with glowing pink-blue Wi-Fi symbol on dark blue background. Sleek, modern design with a glossy finish.

Sessions are available via telephone, Microsoft Teams, Whats app, FaceTime or via the Psychology Toads video platform. Check your signal strength, device battery and access to the link. You can access Teams and Psychology Today without downloading an apps. Psychology Today has an app you can download if you would prefer called Client Video:

Google Play Store Apple App Store

White chat bubble with a red heart icon featuring a video camera symbol on a blue background, conveying connection and affection. — Client Video App Logo

Check you have authorised permission for you camera and microphone. Consider arriving early to the waiting room to give you time to fix any issues.

Think about what you'd like to address

What's on your mind? What have you noticed that you'd like to address? What are you struggling with? How would you like things to be different? You might not know all of these but it can be useful to have some bullet points written down for when your mind goes blank of if the anxiety is kicking in and you can't think straight.

Write down any questions?
Do you have any doubt, concerns or questions about therapy? It can be useulf to write these down in advance to share during your appointment.

Summary: You’ve Got This

Starting virtual therapy is a brave and meaningful step. By setting up your space, testing your tech, reflecting on your goals, and preparing questions, you've laid a strong foundation to get your first session off to a good start.

If you are ready to work towards improved confidence and clarity i'm here to support you.

Book your first session today.