Online Sessions

We are here to help you get through this tumultuous time. While our Markham office has remained open with very strict precautions in place, we are also happy to offer online therapy for those who are in self-isolation or from other cities and provinces.

Tips & Instructions:

Is online therapy still effective?

Research shows that online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy. Additionally, advanced technology and HD audio supports a therapist's ability to stay attuned to your facial expressions, tone of voice, and more. Because online therapy can take different forms (i.e. video chat, audio-only, phone calls, etc.), it's important to let your therapist know what your preferences are so that you can collaboratively decide what will help you feel most supported.



Being in my therapist's office helped me get the right "frame of mind" to talk about things. Now what?

Just as you might designate a certain part of your house for office work, we invite you to be intentional about creating a space for your sessions. For example, if your office is your "work zone," your living room might become your "therapy zone." If you live in a smaller space, you may consider sitting on a blanket or throw cushion in a certain part of the room and lighting a candle at the beginning of your session to create some sort of demarcation for "therapy time." Other people choose to speak to their therapist from their car or from a secluded park bench, so long as they have a strong enough internet connection.



Are online sessions secure and private?

We understand the importance of confidentiality. As a result, we use one of the most secure online platforms, Doxy.me, which is HIPAA-compliant. This means that it is specifically designed for health professionals to ensure that the necessary security precautions are in place to protect your confidentiality. We also will only hold an online session if we have full privacy on our end. We invite you to engage in online sessions from a place that protects your privacy as well. For some, this means doing the session from their car, a secluded outdoor park, or at a time when no one is home.



What factors might affect the efficacy of online sessions?

1. Insecure wifi connections: please be sure that you are using a secure signal when partcipating in online sessions as you may feel interrupted and frustrated if the app is continually freezing. If you have a poor internet connection, it may also be best to engage in a phone call rather than video call. 2. Feeling awkward: if a certain form of online therapy feels particularly awkward, let us know so we can adapt accordingly! While some people prefer video chat, others might like phone calls better. Just let us know! 3. Feeling as though there's a lack of privacy: if you'll feel distracted about other people potentially hearing your session, consider doing it from your phone in a secluded outdoor setting, from your car, or when others are not home.



Should I even engage in therapy right now?

We never want anyone to feel forced to attend therapy. The choice is entirely yours about if you feel therapy would be beneficial or not. That said, we currently don't quite know how long measures of social distancing, self-quarantine, and more will be in effect. You and your therapist can work together to create a sustainable, practical, self-care plan for you to help you cope in a way that proactively tends to your mental health rather than reactively.



Instructions for online sessions

We are using a platform called Doxy.me for online sessions. As one of the only softwares that does NOT require a username, password, or app download, it's very quick and easy to join a session. Additionally, it's created specifically for health professionals so it's very secure.
 To join an online session, simply go to doxy.me/freshinsight about 1 - 5 minutes before your session. Your therapist will see you in the online "waiting room" once you've joined and start the call at the time of your session. The link to join a session is the same every time so feel free to bookmark the page for easier access in the future. Please ensure that you've allowed Doxy.me access to your camera and microphone. On smartphones, this notification should come up automatically once you log-in. When prompted, click the blue botton that says "Allow access to camera." If this does not come up automatically for whatever reason, go to the menu on the left-hand side and click the blue "Pre-call test" button at the bottom. This 15 - 30 second process will test that Doxy.me has permission to use your camera and audio.



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kristina@fresh-insight.ca

Tel: (647) 689 - 5957

Fax: (855) 365 - 1125

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Mon - Fri: 9am - 9pm

In-person and online sessions available

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© 2018 Fresh Insight Therapy Services Ltd.