Online Therapy

Making time for your mental health is essential, but we understand that life is busy, and fitting an in-person appointment into your schedule is not always realistic. And so, in addition to our in-office therapy, OptimalLife Wellness offers online counseling to all of our qualifying clients throughout the state of Washington and Texas. Enjoy the flexibility and coziness of working with your therapist from your own home and never miss another session!

If you’re new to therapy or have refrained from finding a counselor due to a demanding schedule, online therapy could be ideal for you. Virtual therapy allows you the freedom to see your therapist in the safety and convenience of your home environment—all you need is time; a quiet, private room; a computer; a webcam; and a good Internet connection. Being in familiar surroundings can help clients feel more comfortable discussing their personal thoughts, issues, and experiences.

OptimalLife Wellness serves clients in Washington and Texas, especially within the Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and Seattle areas. Visit our Rates & Insurance page to review the variety of providers we accept for both Telehealth and in-office treatment.

How it Works

Our compassionate, talented team of licensed therapists will facilitate your virtual counseling appointments through GoToMeeting, a secured video and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-compliant platform. From there, your counselor will carry out the same personalized treatment approach as she would during in-person sessions. The location is “virtually” the only difference!

Online counseling is not suited for all clients. For example, people with high acuity (e.g., suicidal ideation or self-harming), people with eating disorders, and young children are usually best served by in-person appointments. Your therapist will assess if Telehealth is appropriate for you during the initial first few sessions. If your therapist determines that online counseling is not appropriate for your needs at this time, you will be given the option of in-person appointments. OptimalLife Wellness Center reserves the right to decline virtual services.  

Benefits of Online Counseling

Although online therapy includes the same treatment methods as in-person therapy, seeing your therapist virtually has several benefits, such as:

• Discretion: Virtual counseling sessions offer a higher level of privacy and one-on-one connection. Clients can attend sessions without anyone knowing and with the peace of mind that there is no one else to engage with or nearby. Online therapy provides a safe space to discuss sensitive experiences.
• Affordability: Telehealth may be more affordable for some clients, as there are no transportation costs.
• Accessibility: Online therapy casts a wider net to all clients in Washington seeking mental health services, as some geographic locations have limited resources or are too far away from the nearest provider within their network. 

Drawbacks of Online Therapy

Telehealth has its benefits; however, it’s not a perfect solution for therapy, and in-person appointments are still considered the gold standard for counseling. Some of the drawbacks of virtual therapy include:

• Technology: When it works, technology is amazing. However, when it doesn’t work, it can wreak havoc. Technological problems are common in Telehealth, and they will disrupt sessions.
• Interruptions: Clients are more likely to be interrupted and/or have their privacy compromised by others in the household and/or in the workplace. 
• Challenging Assessment: It is more difficult for therapists to accurately assess for a decline in behavior when we have less access to information about the client. For example, it’s easier for clients to hide body language, neglected hygiene, weight loss, bruises, and changes in posture and gait.