Getting started
How online therapy works
The practical side of virtual sessions — what you need, and how privacy actually works.
The setup
What you need
- A device with a camera and microphone — a phone, tablet, or computer all work fine. Nothing specialized required.
- An internet connection — if video calls or streaming already work fine for you, a session will too. You'll get a link by email before your appointment; clicking it a minute or two early is a good habit, so any connection hiccups show up before we're supposed to start.
- A plan for a dropped connection — if the call drops mid-session, just rejoin using the same link. It happens occasionally and isn't a problem; we simply pick back up where we left off.
- A private space — a room with a door that closes, or anywhere else you won't be interrupted or overheard. A parked car works well for a lot of people if home doesn't offer privacy.
Privacy
Who can see what
Sessions run on a video platform built specifically for healthcare and secured to HIPAA standards — not a general consumer video call app. The video and audio aren't recorded or stored anywhere.
If you're using insurance, your insurer sees claims-level information — that you had a session and a diagnosis code — but not what was actually discussed. The content of our sessions stays between us, protected under HIPAA, with the narrow legal exceptions described in the FAQ.
On your end, the biggest privacy factor is usually your own space and headphones, if that's useful — the platform itself is secure regardless.
If you are struggling: reaching out for support can be one, small courageous step toward feeling more like yourself again.
Life can be tough, but you don't have to go it alone. Help is available.