For a new or experienced speech-language pathologist, starting up with teletherapy for the first time can feel intimidating. Here are some tips I have learned in the years I've worked as a teletherapist:

Have a setup that works for you

If you're going to be spending a lot of time working with clients on a computer, a good place to start is having a workspace that's comfortable and works for you. Some features that have helped me with this are making sure I have enough background light, space on my desk, and a second monitor to assist with screensharing. This ensures that I have enough room to see clients and look at therapy resources together. Some therapists like having additional fixtures such as a lamp, a resource sharing camera, a green screen background, or easily accessible resources they can show on camera from their desk. Your setup doesn't have to be expensive to be effective! Even having post-it notes nearby can be useful.

Familiarize yourself with your teletherapy platform's features

Whether you're using a HIPAA-complaint version of Zoom, Google Meet, or an in-house teletherapy platform, take some time to familiarize yourself with your platform's features. Screensharing is one of the most often used features for me in teletherapy to show clients therapy materials. Reaction icons that show up on the screen can be motivating and used to give clients feedback. Virtual backgrounds or green screens can add variety to the setting clients see you in.

Take breaks to move around & hydrate

When doing teletherapy, it's easy to become sedentary especially with back-to-back sessions. Try to schedule breaks for yourself throughout the day to reset, move around, or do something to reset from staring at a screen. There can be less built-in time for transitions when doing teletherapy compared to in person, so be intentional about building time in for your own transitions. Hydration is also important, as teletherapy can involve lots of talking.

Pick a set of materials to use

There are lots of online teletherapy resources you can use for therapy. Pick a set of resource options that you're comfortable with to use for sessions and adapt as needed! Depending on your clinical style as a therapist, you don't always need lots of different materials to do effective therapy. But if having lots of options is something that's helpful for you when doing activities in therapy, that's a valid approach too.

Focus on what you can control

Lots of unexpected things can happen in teletherapy sessions. Clients can be distracted, there can be background noise or things happening off camera, and technology can be sometimes be unpredictable (e.g. WiFi, computer battery, connection signal strength). When things don't work the way you want them to, embrace what you can control. Remember that you are doing your best and showing up for your clients.

-Ian Quillen, M.S., CCC-SLP

For a new or experienced speech-language pathologist, starting up with teletherapy for the first time can feel intimidating. Here are some tips I have learned in the years I've worked as a teletherapist:

Have a setup that works for you

If you're going to be spending a lot of time working with clients on a computer, a good place to start is having a workspace that's comfortable and works for you. Some features that have helped me with this are making sure I have enough background light, space on my desk, and a second monitor to assist with screensharing. This ensures that I have enough room to see clients and look at therapy resources together. Some therapists like having additional fixtures such as a lamp, a resource sharing camera, a green screen background, or easily accessible resources they can show on camera from their desk. Your setup doesn't have to be expensive to be effective! Even having post-it notes nearby can be useful.

Familiarize yourself with your teletherapy platform's features

Whether you're using a HIPAA-complaint version of Zoom, Google Meet, or an in-house teletherapy platform, take some time to familiarize yourself with your platform's features. Screensharing is one of the most often used features for me in teletherapy to show clients therapy materials. Reaction icons that show up on the screen can be motivating and used to give clients feedback. Virtual backgrounds or green screens can add variety to the setting clients see you in.

Take breaks to move around & hydrate

When doing teletherapy, it's easy to become sedentary especially with back-to-back sessions. Try to schedule breaks for yourself throughout the day to reset, move around, or do something to reset from staring at a screen. There can be less built-in time for transitions when doing teletherapy compared to in person, so be intentional about building time in for your own transitions. Hydration is also important, as teletherapy can involve lots of talking.

Pick a set of materials to use

There are lots of online teletherapy resources you can use for therapy. Pick a set of resource options that you're comfortable with to use for sessions and adapt as needed! Depending on your clinical style as a therapist, you don't always need lots of different materials to do effective therapy. But if having lots of options is something that's helpful for you when doing activities in therapy, that's a valid approach too.

Focus on what you can control

Lots of unexpected things can happen in teletherapy sessions. Clients can be distracted, there can be background noise or things happening off camera, and technology can be sometimes be unpredictable (e.g. WiFi, computer battery, connection signal strength). When things don't work the way you want them to, embrace what you can control. Remember that you are doing your best and showing up for your clients.

-Ian Quillen, M.S., CCC-SLP