ONLINE THERAPY
Secure and confidential online therapy appointments
Now and always, Oakville Therapy offers convenient, confidential online video therapy to residents of the Greater Toronto Area (the GTA; Halton, Peel, Hamilton, and Toronto Regions), including Oakville, Burlington, Hamilton, Milton, Halton Hills, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Toronto, and beyond (Ontario residents).
What is online therapy?
Online therapy can mean a lot of things. There are many ways to virtually meet, including via video, text, or phone. In addition to in-person appointments in my office in Oakville, Ontario, one of the services I offer is real-time, face-to-face on-screen video therapy. This works just like Skype or FaceTime (but with services that do a better job of protecting your privacy). What I love about this approach is that it feels and functions very much like being in an office working together. Once we meet in my virtual waiting room and establish our connection, we just talk - just as we would in the office. You and I can still see facial expressions, hand gestures - all the nonverbal cues we would normally be able to use to benefit our work together. (In fact, studies show that real-time online video therapy is just as effective as in-person/in-office therapy. [For example, see Barak, A., Hen, L., Boniel-Nissim, M., & Shapira, N. (2008). (PDF) A Comprehensive Review and a Meta-Analysis of the Effectiveness of Internet-Based Psychotherapeutic Interventions] So, it’s effective, it doesn’t get in the way, and in fact it also comes with some serious benefits.
Why do online therapy?
I’ve been offering online therapy for several years now because it’s effective and I wanted to expand my service offerings to my local community and beyond. Virtual services have taken on different importance in our new world and have opened up many more possibilities in our lives when it comes to seeking support and treatment.
There are some significant benefits to online therapy. How about never having to worry about traffic before you head out for an online counseling appointment? Traffic in most of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is bad enough to create stress before you ever make it to session. Many of the people who reach out to me work downtown Toronto and live in west GTA. If the weather is bad, even minimal travel can create a real barrier to seeking help. Online therapy lets you forget about that and attend sessions from wherever is convenient for you. That can be your home, your private office, or even your parked car during your lunch break (it’s a great private place to meet if you have a good WiFi signal). Wherever you’re able to have a private space that’s free of distractions, you can work with me from there. Being able to access secure and confidential therapy services during the day or evening from a private and convenient space has opened up a very important door to working with a helping professional like myself.
Being at home allows you to be especially comfortable. Want to have a favorite pet near you as we do the hard work of therapy? That’s not a problem when your sessions are online, and I’m happy to be invited into your home and learn more about you with this way of meeting. Do you have a favorite comfy chair or blanket or tea that might help you feel better? The beauty of online therapy is you can tailor your surroundings to your needs.
Advantages of Online Therapy
Convenience & Comfort. No commute. You can have your online counseling sessions wherever it works best for you.
More accessible and flexible. Online counseling is a great option for people who experience difficulty with mobility. It is also great for people who might find it challenging to travel to an office. For example, no car or time-consuming and crowded bus or train is required.! The sessions are wherever you are. With no travel time, the sessions fit easily into your schedule. And, you can use that extra time for whatever you want, like self-care or time with your family.
Privacy. The sessions are done at a time and place that you choose, which allows you to maintain a high level of privacy. No one sees you coming or going from an office. And, there is no chance of seeing people you know in the waiting room. This is an important benefit for those who have this concern.
Consistency. If you're sick with a cold but still want to have your session, you could get yourself as comfortable as possible still meet me in my virtual waiting room at your appointment time for your session. Or, for example, you had an accident and is homebound, the ease and convenience of online sessions can be the difference between going to therapy or not. Or maybe your work-life has ramped up so much for a period of time that you’re wondering how you can find time to continue with therapy. Online counseling make this possible.
Caregiving. Scheduling childcare, eldercare, or partner care can be challenging when trying to make it to an office for an appointment. With online counseling, sessions can be scheduled around naptime or screentime or whatever creative solutions you devise to give yourself 50 minutes for a session to take care of yourself and take time for YOU.
Traveling. Sometimes work or family takes you out of the Greater Toronto Area to a different place in the province of Ontario. As long as you are in Ontario, have an internet connection, and still want to have a session, you can!
Weather. Because there is no need to travel, your ability to attend sessions won’t be impacted, or impossible, because of weather constraints like the ones we have in winter time in our province.
Possible Challenges of Online Therapy
Connection Required. You will need a solid internet connection. If you can you watch Netflix without any issues, you are good to go! Even with the best connections, sometimes technology has hiccups. A connection drops, WiFi is unavailable, etc. These can put a stop to an online session. However, we will have a backup plan in case the technology glitches and we’ll be able to quickly get back to our meeting.
Distractions. Sometimes being at home and having the comfort of your favorite sweater or blanket or pet can be great. Other times having all the entertainment options of home can be a big distraction. You’ll want to make sure that wherever you do your sessions is as free from distractions as possible. And it’s helpful to temporarily remove distractions like notifications that flash on the screen of your device you’re using for your appointments. Then, we can focus on the important work of therapy and helping you achieve the change you’re seeking!.
Skepticism. This is different. Particularly if you’re not completely comfortable with technology, this can feel foreign or complicated. It doesn’t have to be, and I can help you with getting set up and comfortable with this way of meeting. It becomes just like we’re talking in a room together. If you're still uneasy, I encourage you to reach out so we can talk about possibilities of how you can try out online therapy. If you try online therapy and decide it’s not for you, we can always talk about meeting in-office, face-to-face, when the COVID-19 pandemic is over.
Online Therapy with me.
I live here in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and have had my practice, Oakville Therapy, in this area since 2008. I've spent my career helping people and I love my work. If you’re struggling with depression, anxiety, loss and grief, trauma, self-esteem and perfectionism difficulties, or relationship challenges, Oakville Therapy can help you through online therapy.
I invite you to call me at (416) 931-0690 for a free 15-minute phone consultation. We can discuss any questions you have about individual online counseling and my practice in Oakville, ON.
It is possible for you to connect, heal, and thrive.
I Can Help You With These Common Issues:
Depression
Anxiety
Loss and grief
Trauma
Unfinished business
Self-critical and self-esteem issues (e.g., perfectionism)
Emotional issues
Life transitions
Relationship difficulties (e.g., with spouse, family, in the workplace)
Pregnancy, perinatal, and postnatal issues (e.g., postpartum depression and anxiety)
Self-improvement and growth
Motivation to make a change
Stuck making an important decision
Just plain stuck
Frequently Asked Questions
How will sitting and talking bring about change?
In sessions, we will not just be sitting and chatting. Effective therapy is not a passive process and I am not a passive therapist. I believe that each of us has an innate resilience and wisdom, and I can help you clear away the blocks and barriers preventing you from accessing your strongest self. I can offer you the guidance and support you need to really hear yourself, as well as the tools that can help you heal, resolve, and grow.
Will this be a long process?
I use a highly effective, short-term therapy approach that, with your commitment and engagement, creates lasting change. As we get started, you and I will establish clear goals and direction for our work together. The goals may shift and take new forms, but we will keep your destination in mind as we work through your path to mental health and change. I will call on my training and experience with research-based models and maps to help you experience early relief from struggle as well as meet your overall goals.
I’m worried that focusing on my emotions will make me feel even worse.
Delving into emotions allows us to heal the pain from the inside so that you can genuinely move forward. When it comes to emotional pain and problems, “The only way out is through.” For immediate relief, you may need a temporary solution or strategy, but I do not see work-around solutions that put Band-Aids on problems as solutions. And, I believe that, with a willingness to engage in the therapy process, enduring core change is possible. And, I know this takes courage. When you finally deal with underlying sources of problems, you will find that symptoms of distress, anxiety, depression, and dread no longer show up in such overwhelming ways or prevent you from living the life you want. You can experience life in a new, more balanced way.
You Can Move Forward and Feel Better
I invite you to call me at (416) 931-0690 for a free 15-minute phone consultation. We can discuss any questions you have about individual counselling and my practice in Oakville, ON.