Virtual Therapy NYC & New York State
Takeaway: Online therapy allows people to get support wherever and whenever is convenient for them. As a virtual therapist in NYC, I help people with a wide range of issues. Plus, we can connect whether you live in the city or elsewhere in New York State. Reach out today to start the process.
I was a director of a mental health clinic in Brooklyn during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. I experienced what most therapists did all across New York City and New York State, as we had to pivot to online therapy. We, like you, did not know how to feel about online counseling. As I continued my professional experience as an online therapist, I realized the difference it made for my clients. Commute time headaches seized, childcare was no longer a barrier and accessibility opened up when time constraints due to traffic or transportation struggles were no longer an issue. With online therapy you can access clinicians from anywhere that is most convenient for you. You are now free to secure a therapist appointment faster and with more convenience.
Although some therapists already offered online counseling before the pandemic; nowadays, most mental health counselors offer online sessions as part of their permanent services. Online therapy platforms flood the online counseling searches, and more are establishing themselves in every state. Online sessions have become one of the most convenient ways for you to access a mental health counselor and receive stress relief from the comfort of your own couch.
Online therapy sessions only require you to have an internet connection and a private location to access a therapist online. The mental health counselor will provide a secure video platform link for you to access telehealth services.
Below I will continue to discuss the pros and cons of in person therapy vs online therapy sessions and my approach to online therapy.
Meet Karina Diaz | Virtual therapist in NYC & New York State
Therapy is a personal process. There’s no cookie-cutter formula to a fulfilled and enriched life.
As a therapist, it is important for me to get to know you, learn what is important to you, listen, and discover your personal language.
I will create a safe space to process and support you in making choices that feel meaningful to you.
You can expect genuine compassion and quality care. I listen with an open heart and draw from my 20+ years of experience. My goal is to be personable and relatable in my online therapy sessions. I will collaborate with you and help create a clearer understanding of your goals. Doing this will help us track how you are progressing in your recovery. You will always have real-time knowledge at your fingertips of how you are doing in treatment.
My approach to online therapy
All you need is an internet connection and a private area; I will guide you through how to obtain the positive change you want to make in your life.
Art Therapy is a branch of psychotherapy that can be very empowering. It provides an additional source of communication. It provides a platform to help you feel seen. It can be used as a means to express yourself and can be used with many modalities, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, internal family systems, and family work.
Art therapy has been shown to significantly decrease psychological trauma symptoms and a significant decrease in depression.
Schouten, K. A., de Niet, G. J., Knipscheer, J. has W., Kleber, R. J., & Hutschemaekers, G. J. M. (2015). The Effectiveness of Art Therapy in the Treatment of Traumatized Adults: A Systematic Review on Art Therapy and Trauma. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 16(2), 220–228.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)
CBT treatment is a widely used evidence-based treatment proven to reduce symptoms of many mental health conditions, primarily depression and anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective means of treatment for depression, substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders.
TF-CBT is an evidence-based treatment that helps children, adolescents, and emerging adults address the negative effects of trauma, including processing traumatic memories or a single traumatic event and developing effective coping and interpersonal skills.
Internal Family Systems is an evidence-based psychotherapy, that supports you in accessing and healing the inner protective and wounded parts of yourself, creating inner and outer connectedness and helping you come to understand yourself in a deeper more meaningful way promoting healing. I use art therapy interventions to aid in this process.
FAQs about online therapy in New York
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People who have social anxiety or agoraphobia, chronic illness that decreases the ability to travel or commute, depression, or trauma, can now connect from anywhere to speak to a licensed professional.
As well, having a therapist be accessible via a desktop, laptop or even your phone can also open up the door to distractions, receiving calls, emails, texts, etc.
To get the most out of online therapy, there are a few steps you can take to get the most out of your sessions:
1. Turn off notifications on your phone, email, or social outlets while you are connecting to your online therapist.
2. Find a quiet and private place to have your session. Find a chair or cushion that feels comfortable and put your feet up!
3. Create a little transition ritual, especially if you work most of the day on your computer. You can benefit from switching gears to a more “therapeutic environment”. Begin with a few deep breaths, take at least a five-minute no-screen time to rest your eyes, stretch, light a candle, have some soft fabrics around you, or even a pet. Sometimes having pencils, colors, paints, clay, or origami paper in front of you while you are in session can help you create a more comfortable setting to set the tone.
4. Ask questions, it is okay to inquire about things such as, when will I receive a link? Who starts the session? How do you maintain confidentiality as a virtual therapist? How can I communicate with you in between sessions? Can I have the flexibility of having either telephonic or face-to-face sessions? or state a preference. It is okay to ask questions that provide clarity on what to expect.
5. Please keep in mind that it is okay to say what you prefer or feel comfortable with. If the sound or lighting is something that the therapist could change, for example. Also, it is okay to provide your therapist feedback about the therapeutic relationship. There are differences between on-site sessions and virtual sessions, nuances on what you feel is distant or relatable. It is perfectly okay to express what you feel comfortable with at every turn, a good therapeutic relationship holds the key to your therapy goals.
Choosing online therapy is a personal decision and outcomes are not guaranteed.
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Below are a few pros and cons regarding online counseling vs in person counseling.
PROS of online therapy
1. Convenience
The value of knowing that you can access your therapist from the comfort of your own space at any time that is convenient for you is immeasurable. Barriers such as child care or transportation are no longer an issue with online therapy.
2. More approachable
For many, online therapy is a more approachable way to access mental health care. In today’s society, there is still some stigma around receiving services from a therapist. You do not need to have a diagnosed mental health disorder to receive support and online therapy provides a more accessible platform.
3. Greater accessibility to quality therapy for people living in rural areas
People who live in remote communities or rural areas often have a difficult time accessing quality services. Most therapists now have availability virtually opening the doors to more specialties for a more tailored treatment plan at your fingertips.
CONS of online therapy
1. More challenging to feel connected to the process of therapy
Since you are not both in the same room during a session, it may prove more difficult to feel a connection to your therapist, and trust in the therapeutic relationship may take a bit longer to establish.
2. It may not be appropriate in instances where there is a serious mental illness
Comprehensive treatment teams or day treatment programs are more appropriate in these cases. For people who are experiencing suicidal ideation intending to follow through will also be more appropriate for in-person settings or crisis-receiving services rather than online. Unless online services are a part of a larger treatment team.
3. It may not be a good fit for some people.
Some people may just find that they are not being cared for enough and may find the experience more distancing than warm.
PROS of in-person:
1. In-person therapy has years of evidence-based research to back up the benefits of therapy. It is an established practice that has proven to be very effective in treating most mental health illnesses.
2. Forming a therapeutic alliance. The nature of in-person interaction allows body language and presence to be part of the equation and this is a very powerful tool to elicit trust building. This can also be true for online therapy but it can be hard to replicate virtually for less skilled therapists.
3. More treatment modalities can be introduced in in-person therapy.
There could be more materials that can be used for expression in a therapy office as well as allow a therapeutic environment for movement techniques.
CONS of in-person
1. Hard to find quality therapists in rural areas.
People who live in cities have access to choices and chances are higher in finding a skilled therapist that specializes in your particular issue. On the contrary, finding in-person therapists in rural areas can be difficult and can aggravate further isolation and hopelessness to existing conditions.
2. Inconvenience
For many, getting to an in-person therapy appointment can be difficult. Some therapy offices have limited space or times after business hours, having to take off work or rush to get to an appointment on time after regular work hours is challenging. This is one of the biggest barriers to in-person therapy.
3. Stigma
Stigma can oftentimes impede the process of getting to an appointment at a therapist’s office or counseling center. Waiting for an appointment can feel triggering for people who have anxiety about getting help to begin with. Many people who have a higher degree of anxiety do not make in-person appointments regularly.
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Virtual therapy is safe. Ethical guidelines for practitioners point to the importance of having a HIPPA compliant platform that is secure and that conforms to HIPAA guidelines. Both you and your therapist will need to speak of the potential risks to privacy that online therapy poses. Once you discuss the risks and benefits of online therapy, you will be able to receive services freely and experience the benefits of having the support of a licensed mental health counselor support you in your wellness journey.
PROS of online therapy
1. Convenience
The value of knowing that you can access your therapist from the comfort of your own space at any time that is convenient for you is immeasurable. Barriers such as child care or transportation are no longer an issue with online therapy.
2. More approachable
For many, online therapy is a more approachable way to access mental health care. In today’s society, there is still some stigma around receiving services from a therapist. You do not need to have a diagnosed mental health disorder to receive support and online therapy provides a more accessible platform.
3. Greater accessibility to quality therapy for people living in rural areas
People who live in remote communities or rural areas often have a difficult time accessing quality services. Most therapists now have availability virtually opening the doors to more specialties for a more tailored treatment plan at your fingertips.
CONS of online therapy
1. More challenging to feel connected to the process of therapy
Since you are not both in the same room during a session, it may prove more difficult to feel a connection to your therapist, and trust in the therapeutic relationship may take a bit longer to establish.
2. It may not be appropriate in instances where there is a serious mental illness
Comprehensive treatment teams or day treatment programs are more appropriate in these cases. For people who are experiencing suicidal ideation intending to follow through will also be more appropriate for in-person settings or crisis-receiving services rather than online. Unless online services are a part of a larger treatment team.
3. It may not be a good fit for some people.
Some people may just find that they are not being cared for enough and may find the experience more distancing than warm.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911
988 is a national 24/7 number where people who are trained in handling mental health crises can support you any time you need it.
Get the support you need with virtual therapy in NYC.
Start your healing journey today.
IT’S POSSIBLE TO ALLEVIATE SYMPTOMS THAT ARE CAUSING THE MOST STRESS IN YOUR LIFE AND TO REESTABLISH A SENSE OF SAFETY.
Healing and recovery are possible and can be redefined in the context of your current relationships and the environments where you work, live, and play.
I help create a sense of safety, trustworthiness, and transparency around what to expect in virtual therapy. I believe in collaboration and mutuality in the therapeutic process to promote empowerment and choice. Together we will explore any cultural, historical, and gender issues that may be contributing or directly causing the effects of stress in your life, and provide the tools needed for you to live a more fulfilling life.
