Telehealth
If you can’t make it into the office, don’t worry, we’ll still make it happen! Esperanza Family Counseling offers secure, confidential and HIPAA compliant telehealth counseling services. Whether you struggle with transportation, childcare, are extra cautious, or just prefer to have therapy from the comfort of your own home, if you live ANYWHERE in California, we can serve you. All you need is a private space, a decent internet connection and a willingness to reach out.
Getting set up for Telehealth sessions
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Choose your clinician- While the rates don’t change between in person and telehealth sessions, you may find a discount with some telehealth-only clinicians.
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Let us know of your telehealth preference- Notify our office staff or your clinician of your request for telehealth at the time you set the appointment.
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Look for the link- Be sure to provide us with your email address. You will receive a link to access a HIPAA compliant video platform through Psychology Today. There is no need to download any additional applications or software to use this telehealth platform.
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Make sure you have privacy- Make sure you have a private space where you can feel comfortable enough to begin your session. You might choose to be in your bedroom, home office, closet, or even outside in your property. We don’t care about your background or any clutter, we just want to make sure we can see you and hear you well.
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Set up a good time- It would be best to schedule sessions at times when you don’t have any distractions. However, if you cannot avoid having children in your care during your session, we will do our best to accommodate.
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What to use- Laptops or desktop computers with a video camera and microphone (built in) are great options to use for your telehealth sessions. However, you can also use a tablet or even a smartphone if needed; just be sure to secure them in a stable position for the session. Also make sure you have enough battery in your device or have your charger ready to plug in in case you need it.
During your Telehealth session
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The virtual waiting room- Once you click on the link, you will be taken to your clinician’s virtual waiting room. As soon as your clinician is ready they will let you in and your session can begin.
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Consider using headphones- The use of headphones will help improve the sound quality and help ensure your privacy.
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What if my connection or internet drops- If you get kicked out of the session for a bad internet connection, just try and jump back into the session as soon as you can. If you lose internet during the session, your clinician will call you on the phone number we have on file for you to continue the session by phone.