Prior to our 50-Minute Online Therapy Session, log in to Doxy.me through the link above, or by logging in to Doxy.me directly and entering my waiting room name, which is doxy.me/katiezimmlmft. Below (see image) is what the page should look like when you first go to log in. You will have a passcode provided for you if you are my client and we have scheduled a session.
Once you log on, please make sure to do a "Pre-Call Test" so that we ensure that everything is working properly, and we have the best session possible. Make sure you update your browser (on your phone and/or computer) to the latest software available (Safari 11+ for iOS devices). Troubleshooting is best done before our call. Please let me know prior to our session if you are having any trouble with Doxy.me.
Below is what it will look like once you enter your provided Passcode and name. See the "Pre-Call Test" button on the bottom, left of the page that I would like you to run through prior to our call.
PLEASE NOTE: If for some reason we are disconnected from Doxy.me, or we are experiencing difficulties with sound, webcams, or slow internet connection we will try using (1st) FaceTime (only for clients with an iPhone/apple device).
FaceTime is a safe option for Teletherapy because, unlike other platforms, “FaceTime is peer-to-peer, and uses end-to-encryption, Apple does not store any FaceTime sessions on their servers, nor do they have the ability to decrypt live FaceTime sessions. With this information, we are confident that Apple’s FaceTime is an HIPAA compliant solution. We arrive at this decision via the conduit rule.” -Jon Taylor: President and Founder of Bayon Health
Then/OR (for clients without an Apple device and therefore without access to FaceTime) we will try getting in touch using (2d) Zoom. Please download the Zoom app on your phone AND computer prior to our call. You will be required to download on any device you use, and it’s best that everything is downloaded before we need it, so that we waste none of your session time.
Finally, if Doxy.me, FaceTime, and Zoom are not working for any reason, I will do one or all of the following depending on the situation. I will 1. Try to call you. 2. Text you. 3. Email you. If our session times out within the last 5/10 minutes (of our 50-minute scheduled session) I will use my clinical discretion to decide whether or not we were at a good place to wrap up, and I will text you to confirm how to proceed (Example: Our session started at 10:00am and at 10:47am our call dropped, but we had been discussing what you could do in the next week to further make progress. I might decide to text you and say, "Oops, it looks like our meeting got cut short. Please follow through on that journaling activity and we will meet again on ___ at ____time. Let me know if there was anything else you needed to discuss and I will call you back!" Otherwise, I will attempt to reconnect the call, and I will either call/text to let you know that I am trying to reconnect with you.
Tips for a great Digital-therapy experience
Try out all of the suggested platforms (Doxy.me, Zoom.com and the apps on your phone), as well as FaceTime if you have an iPhone PRIOR to our first meeting. This is so helpful in making sure that everything is downloaded properly and working well- both Doxy.me and Zoom have the option to do test-calls before our meeting so that you can check your microphone and webcam! I also suggest that you try doing those sound and video checks with whatever devices (including specific headphones you might wish to use) you'll use during our session (i.e. Don't try it on your computer if you will actually be taking the call on your iPhone with headphones in a back office!)
Decide how to make yourself as comfortable as possible for our meeting. This includes good lighting for the meeting (lighting should NOT be BEHIND you for video calls —this makes you look dark and I can not accurately see your face and expressions, which I would love to see!). Light should be coming from behind your computer or phone. Bright, natural light is great, as well as bright lights behind the camera of your phone or computer. If you need to purchase lighting to improve the quality of our sessions, I suggest an affordable option like an easy "ring light" that can attach to your phone or go behind your computer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0888SXSYP/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_v9ftFbF91EP0N
Think about where you will be having your session. Will you be comfortable sitting for an hour? Do you need something to properly set up your phone or computer so that you don't have to hold it the entire session and/or fiddle with it to get a good angle and see me easily? Do you need to have a towel ready to roll up and put under the door to stifle sound? Do you need a white noise machine to help with sound interruptions if you'll be having your sessions in a noisy place (I have white noise machines both on the inside of my office door AND on the outside in order to protect the integrity of our virtual sessions)? Here is a 10$ white noise machine that would work perfectly if you need it: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07317NQKW/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_JdgtFb2XCGNS
Keep in mind this is going to be a great experience. Almost everyone who I have done a teletherapy session with, thus far, has been surprised at how wonderfully it works and how we quickly get past the "this is so weird" phase ;). I can't wait to see you online!