Guide
Telehealth therapy tips for a session that feels private and calm.
Telehealth therapy is still therapy, but the room is one you set up yourself. A few choices made ahead of time can make the session feel private and unhurried. These telehealth therapy tips cover space, sound, connection and timing, plus one rule that is not optional. Erin L. Smith, MSPC, LPCC, LPC, offers telehealth across Kentucky, Arizona and Minnesota.
01Guide
Find a space where you can talk freely
Privacy matters more than scenery. Choose a room with a door that closes, ideally where nobody is likely to walk in or overhear through a thin wall. If home is busy, a parked car is a common choice and can work well. Never join a session while driving. Let anyone you live with know you are unavailable for the hour, and silence notifications. A fan or white noise machine outside the door adds a layer of sound cover. The goal is a spot where you can say what is true without lowering your voice.
02Guide
Sound, screen and a steady connection
Headphones keep your side of the conversation private and make Erin easier to hear. Charge your device or keep it plugged in, and close other apps that might slow things down or pop up mid-sentence. A stable connection matters more than a good camera, so if the signal is weak in one room, test another before the session. Prop the screen at eye level if you can. Technology sometimes fails, so rather than guessing, ask Erin at the start how she would like to handle a dropped connection. Then you both know what happens next.
03Guide
The state rule for telehealth therapy
Licensure follows your physical location during the session, not your home address or the state that issued your insurance. Erin holds licenses in Kentucky, Arizona and Minnesota, so you must be physically inside one of them for every telehealth session. If you will be traveling outside those states on a session day, the session cannot take place from there. That is a legal line, not a judgment about you. If a trip is coming, raise it early, since a session canceled with less than 24 hours' notice is charged in full.
04Guide
Give yourself time before and after
Jumping from a work call straight into therapy, then straight back out, can make the session feel thin. If you can, take a few minutes beforehand to settle: get a glass of water, find tissues, and notice what you want to talk about. Afterward, leave a buffer. A short walk, a few quiet minutes in the car, or a stretch before you reopen your inbox can help you carry the session with you instead of shaking it off. In an office, the drive home does this for you. With telehealth, you build it in on purpose.
05Guide
Why telehealth suits some people well
For some people, telehealth is not a compromise but the better fit. If you work shifts, live a long way from Georgetown, or find it easier to talk from familiar surroundings, it takes the commute out of the equation. For first responders, it also means skipping the waiting room in your own town altogether. The free consultation is itself held by telehealth, so you get a low-stakes way to see how it feels before booking anything. If a screen feels strange at first, say so. That is worth talking about too.
Before you log on
- A door that closes, or a parked car
- Headphones and a charged device
- Physically in Kentucky, Arizona or Minnesota
- A few unhurried minutes on either side
If you are unsure whether your location counts, ask on the free consultation call.
Questions
Common questions
- Do I need to be in Kentucky for telehealth with Erin?
- Not necessarily. You need to be physically in Kentucky, Arizona or Minnesota during each session, since those are the states where Erin is licensed. Where you live, where you grew up and where your plan was issued do not decide it. Your location at the time of the session does.
- Can I do a therapy session from my car?
- Yes, a parked car can be a good private space, especially if home is busy. Park somewhere you feel safe, use headphones, and check that your signal is steady there. Never join while you are driving. If you are on the road, pull over and park first.
- Is telehealth therapy covered by insurance?
- It depends on your plan. Ask your insurer whether telehealth sessions are covered the same way as in-person ones, and confirm your benefits before your first session. Erin's in-network plans, and where each one applies, are on the Rates & Insurance page.
In Erin's words
What she would say if you called today.
On a screen or in the room, my focus is the same. The relationship comes first, we move at a pace you agree to, and I will ask you directly what is helping, including whether the format itself is working for you.
Free 15-minute consultation
Book a consultation with Erin
Fifteen minutes by telehealth, at no charge. You can describe what is going on, ask how Erin works, and decide afterward whether to book a first session. Scheduling opens in her secure SimplePractice portal.
Schedule your free consultationOpens the SimplePractice client portal in a new tab.
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