Do you know you need counseling right now, but not know how you’re going to find the time?
Are you worried about finding a therapist nearby you actually want to work with?
Have you wondered if online therapy would help you or your child?
You feel stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed. You’re tired of the racing thoughts and you think counseling might be able to help. But you aren’t sure how it will work logistically. Seriously. Who would watch your kids? How far would you have to drive to find a therapist you like? And do you really have the time for all of that anyway?
So…You’ve been considering online therapy
Online therapy seems like it would be the easiest way to begin therapy right now. The idea of just pulling up a website, logging in, and talking to someone sounds appealing. If you didn’t have to worry about the time spent driving or the logistics of getting to a counseling office, you’d love the support of a therapist. But you’re a bit anxious about this whole “telehealth” thing. You want to make sure it will really be worth it.
We understand. This is a new experience. But we’re here to simplify the process of getting high-quality mental health services, so we make getting started easy.
Online Therapy may be the answer you’ve been looking for.
Online therapy goes by a lot of different names. Sometimes it’s called online counseling, telehealth, telemental health, virtual counseling, or distance counseling but the idea is generally the same. You find a comfortable, private space in your own home, office, car or other location and login to speak to your therapist.
Benefits of online therapy
There are many reasons you might be considering meeting with a therapist online. Here are some of the common reasons people enjoy using telehealth:
Time: When you attend a counseling session online, the only time you spend is when you are actually on a call. You don’t have to spend time driving to and from our office.
Privacy: If you see a therapist online, you don’t have to worry about running into someone you know in our waiting room and having an awkward conversation. Also, if you know a lot of therapists in your area, telehealth can give you more privacy, in that you can choose a therapist who lives in another part of California and doesn’t know you at all.
More Choice: Research shows that the best predictor of if therapy will “work” is the relationship between you and your therapist. Online counseling opens to doors to so many options. You can really spend the time finding a therapist who’s truly a good fit even if you aren’t physically located near one another.
What’s stopping you from reaching out & getting support from a therapist online?
It’s normal to have questions when you’re starting something new and online counseling may be new for you. Here are so of the most common questions we get about our online mental health services:
Does online therapy even work?
Yes. It actually does. More and more research is coming out every single year showing that online counseling can be just as effective as in-person counseling. At Outside the Norm Counseling, we have four clinicians who each work with different populations and have a different theoretical approach. We believe in the importance of connection, not providing stale, “textbook” therapy. We’re able to form those same connections through video (or phone) sessions and use the same counseling techniques that we use in person.
Can kids or teens use telehealth?
Absolutely! At Outside the Norm Counseling, we see children ages 8 and up for online counseling sessions. We get a little creative with our youngest clients and have found that it usually works really well! In fact, some older children and teens may even connect faster with a therapist online. We’ve noticed that teenagers have grown up learning to connect with others online, so it’s a natural way for them to form a relationship. Furthermore, they’re able to stay somewhere they already feel comfortable at while we talk!
What if someone in my house overhears what I’m saying to my therapist?
It’s very important that you have privacy for all therapy sessions. If you are worried about someone in your house overhearing, we recommend that you carefully choose the part of your house where you meet with your therapist. Earbuds can offer an additional level of privacy. Some clients have even reported they borrowed their baby’s white noise machine for added privacy!
How is online counseling different from in-person counseling?
You may be wondering how online counseling compares to traditional counseling. The obvious difference is that you and your therapist might be located in completely different physical locations. However, there are other differences as well. Some people find it easier to get distracted in which case your therapist may need to redirect you once awhile. On the other hand, some people find themselves going deeper into issues very quickly online as it actually feels a little bit safer.
What to expect from online counseling
Online Therapy for Teens
Teenagers are uniquely suited for online therapy. They are used to making relationships online and have been communicating with peers over technology for much of their life. Therefore, they’re not afraid of the technology and less doubtful about their ability to connect with a therapist this way. Additionally, some teens like that it makes them less reliant on their parents since they’re not having to rely on parents for a ride to and from our therapy office.
Online Therapy for Women
Somewhere along the way, you lost yourself. Maybe it was when you got married and your life became wrapped up in trying to be the best possible partner you could be. Or maybe it was when you became a mom. You’ve always wanted to have children, so of course, you set out to devote your life to them. Or it was when you started climbing the corporate ladder at work. You’re successful in your career now, but feel like there’s still somehow something missing. Wherever it was that you got lost, you know now is the time to find yourself…you just don’t have time to come to fit in a visit at my Temecula counseling office.
Through online therapy sessions, we can help you fight your anxious thoughts and overcome insecurities. It’s possible to find yourself, to learn self-care, and restore a feeling of being whole again. You just need a therapist who truly understands that fear of being judged, criticized, and your desire to be perfect. You need a therapist who understands that even though your life looks perfect on the outside, you are hurting. Good news. You are in the right place. Our therapists help women find themselves, learn to challenge negative self-talk, and get unstuck every single day.
Online Therapy for Depression & Anxiety
Some days, it’s hard just to get out of the house. In fact, it’s hard to find the motivation to do much of anything. And then, the anxious thoughts start to take over. The truth is, anxiety and depression can often make it really difficult to get yourself to a counseling office. In these situations, online therapy can be a great solution. You’re still able to attend counseling but don’t have to find the motivation to get yourself out the door. Our therapists are able to use the same counseling techniques we do in-person to help you face those spiraling thoughts, learn healthy coping skills, and begin to reconnect with your life.
Couples, Relationships & Marriage Counseling Online
Busy couples often appreciate the option to participate in marriage counseling or couples therapy online. We know it can be hard to get both partners to a counseling appointment at the same time every week. Online counseling instead allows you to log in to our secure online system for an hour a week to work on your relationship through couples counseling. Online marriage therapy sessions are great for when one spouse travels when you have childcare issues or when you just have a really busy schedule. For instance, if one partner is at home in Fresno and the other in San Diego for work, both can still participate in a couples counseling session. However, it is important to note that both partners will need to be physically located in the state of California due to our therapist’s license requirements.
Online Therapy for First Responders and Military Personnel
Outside the Norm Counseling, Inc. is a private counseling practice not affiliated with the VA. Receiving depression and/or PTSD treatment in the private sector allows you to keep your records strictly between you and your therapist if you choose. What can you expect from counseling with Outside The Norm Counseling? Here, you’ll feel like you finally have someone who understands. Someone who makes you feel comfortable talking about your experiences. In online counseling for military and first responders, you can get the help you need at your convenience and comfort.
Begin online counseling from anywhere in California
We know it’s hard to ask for help. But therapy truly DOES help. When you’ve worked with one of our therapists, you’ll have a much better understanding of why you find yourself in the same dysfunctional patterns over and over. You’ll have more self-awareness of what your triggers are and why you keep falling back on unhealthy ways of coping. Furthermore, you’ll have new skills you can use to confidently move forward in your life. You’ll feel understood and a sense of relief. The compassionate therapists at Outside the Norm Counseling want to support you on your journey to a better version of yourself. You don’t have to carry all this pain alone. Let us help.
Scheduling Your First Online Appointment
Outside the Norm Counseling telehealth allows you to get the mental health care you want in a way that has never been more convenient. Connect to our providers using any device with internet access- phone, tablet, or computer. All online therapy services are available for California residents.
Step 1: Click to schedule a telehealth appointment.
Step 2: Meet with one of our compassionate therapists
Step3: Start your journey toward a better version of yourself.
Additional Therapy Services in Temecula, CA
Outside the Norm Counseling’s founder, Veronica Cisneros, wanted to create a safe space for people in the Temecula & Murrieta area to find healing. In therapy, we help teens, women, military & first responders, and couples find themselves. Whether you are dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, or something else, we can help. It’s time to restore balance in your life and become the best version of you, right now.
Tips for your online therapy session:
How do I reduce an echo?
The following steps should be done by you and your provider:
1. Use headphones
2. Reduce the volume of speakers
3. Move the microphone away from the speakers
How do I improve video quality?
1. Restart your computer before your first call.
2. Wifi: Be close to your wifi router, make sure no other parties on the network are using up the bandwidth, and you don’t have a lot of browser windows open.
3. CPU/GPU usage: ensure no high-intensity programs are running on the computer.
