There's a similar thread by Miss Laura, but I don't want to overtake it... so I'm going to just create a new one.

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My therapy one went pretty well. I wasn't able to connect to my therapist like I am able to in person, but I was still satisfied with the appointment. I got to get a lot of things off my chest. My pdoc telepsychiatry appt comes on Monday.

What about you? (If you've been doing teletherapy for a while, then share your first experience anyway. )

[Fuzzybear]

Interesting question, thanks blue.
I have not had a teletherapy/telepsychiatry appointment..
I suppose it may be possible even in some prehistoric forests that this could be possible at some point..
Even for those “between therapists” or pdocs ..

It’s interesting that you found it helpful and also that there wasn’t a connection like there is in person.

[wildflowerchild25]

I did teletherapy for two months last year when I was recovering from back surgery. It was just as good as in person therapy.

I haven’t heard anything from my psychiatrist’s office regarding telemedicine yet. I tried to look on their website, but nothing. I don’t have an appt till May but I don’t think restrictions will be lifted by then. I mean, I’m stable so I don’t need any med changes so in reality I don’t even need to see her if she’s willing to just fill prescriptions over the phone.

[Wild Coyote]

Fun Topic, Blue! Thanks! Mine went well. I probably should not get billed though. I had spent a large part of the time showing my pdoc many of the features she had on her equipment. We had fun playing.
I still have not explained it all to her. She will have to wait unless someone else teaches her; she says she depends upon me to teach her because none of her other patients even want to participate in tele -anything.

She had so many calls from patients wanting 90 day supplies of meds. she gave up and would not do them. A few people were angry and she told them to find another pdoc if they can't live with it. She does have a backbone!
I've been wondering.

I had FUN! I was very curious about it all.

Last Tuesday I had a video therapy session with my therapist. It went well. It's just like a Skype session, except she used a service (with video) specifically created for telemedicine. Prior to that, I had had a couple phone call sessions with her when I was unable to drive to therapy (unsafe to drive).

My psychiatrist plans to do something similar as above. He has not yet informed me of the web-based system. He mentioned Skype, but I left a message mentioning the platform my therapist used. We'll see what he picks. He'll likely call me early next week to arrange. My appointment is with him next Wednesday. I've never had a video session with him...ever. I never officially had a phone session with him, either, but I have talked to him on the phone either to set up an emergency appointment, or for him to give me interappointment advice/med adjustments.

[Moose72]

I'm hoping that my pdoc will just do my appointment over the phone. We have had phone calls about meds many times. I have a camera on my phone but not my computer- I'd have to find Skype or something etc. It would tax my brain!

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by Moose72

I'm hoping that my pdoc will just do my appointment over the phone. We have had phone calls about meds many times. I have a camera on my phone but not my computer- I'd have to find Skype or something etc. It would tax my brain!

Here's something I try to remember:

Almost everything has directions and/or a video online!

Should you have to do something that taxes you, you might look it up online first.

[sophiebunny]

I hated video therapy. Staring at my therapist at her computer as she stared at me at mine...I didn't feel like talking about anything. Mostly we talked about trivial stuff. I'm never going to have a meaningful therapeutic conversation talking to my computer.

My psychiatrist did a phone session. That was fine. When I was undergoing cancer treatment and couldn't leave my home, he and I did phone sessions. We know how to talk to each other in a meaningful way using the telephone. I do feel badly for him though. He only has office hours on Wednesdays (he's predominantly an in-patient psychiatrist) so for 9 hours he has to sit at his desk and talk nonstop on the phone. That can't be fun.

[*Beth*]

My first telepsych appointment was smooth. But I won't do telesession with T until Tuesday. I already miss being in her office

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by BethRags

My first telepsych appointment was smooth. But I won't do telesession with T until Tuesday. I already miss being in her office

I had found my first appt amusing; yet, I am sure I will miss meeting in person, too.

[Tucson]

It was not the same for me either. I think at times it is more beneficial to be in person with the therapist. For med related issues, I imagine using video conferencing would work well.

[Miss Laura]

It was so good to hear my Therapist's voice this morning. She has a soothing voice. I've missed her haven't seen her since 5th March.

It was weird being on the phone though I was taking notes as we spoke. I'm being called on Thursday too which is helpful for the meantime.

[Blue_Bird]

My therapist let me know we could do our meetings over the phone for now since I don't want to be going out places during all this, my first phone appointment is April 1st, will let you all know how it goes. I'm sure it will be fine, I have had no problem talking to my doctor or therapist in the past in between sessions when necessary over the phone so I doubt it will be much different from that

[Moose72]

I had a telephone appointment with my primary doctor about my weepy itchy eyes. She prescribed antihistime drops in case its allergies and an antibiotic in case its pink eye.

[sophiebunny]

Second teletherapy session. My therapist said I was the calmest client she'd talked to all day and I helped her a lot. I just don't panic. I never have. The more hysteria and crisis surrounds me the more calm I get. She said she knew this about me but didn't quite appreciate my unique talent until today. So, I gave comfort to my therapist. I didn't mind. I'm glad I helped out.

Originally Posted by sophiebunny

Second teletherapy session. My therapist said I was the calmest client she'd talked to all day and I helped her a lot. I just don't panic. I never have. The more hysteria and crisis surrounds me the more calm I get. She said she knew this about me but didn't quite appreciate my unique talent until today. So, I gave comfort to my therapist. I didn't mind. I'm glad I helped out.

I think it's easy to forget that therapists are people too, and that they do have feelings just like the rest of us. Sometimes they need a little help too, especially during stressful times like these days.

I think it was very nice of you to comfort your therapist. I'm sure it means a lot to her.

in the early days, I was actually told that they didn't think teletherapy would work for me (because my issues are quite complex) and I'd need face to face sessions. for someone who struggles with that level of contact, I was determined to do it anyway (yes I've always been a bit of a rebbil patient. lol)

I suppose it was okay. I guess they were right when they said it wouldn't work for me (because I generally didn't think it did), but I continued it for a couple of weeks before I just stopped. like that

and now I just stick to face to face

I used to get annoyed because where I was living at the time it would be quite loud when I'd have my sessions

certain people felt the need to be extremely loud and annoying

[Jester's Rags]

I had appointments with both Pdoc and T scheduled for tomorrow. For my doc, they gave me the options of in person, teleconference, telephone. I chose to talk with him on the phone. It's usually him asking about my moods, sleep, etc. and us discussing medications.

From my T, they gave me the options of teleconference or telephone. I chose to reschedule. I don't think it would be helpful to do therapy remotely for me.

Where I work, they've done telepsych appointments for years. I remember initially, they had technical difficulties with it. Usually caused by the clients machine not having enough processing power, having a slow internet connection, or their lack of knowledge. It has been a long while since I worked on that project, and the software has gotten better since then.

[Moose72]

Tomorrow I have a phone appointment with my liver doctor so I'll see how that goes and let you know.

[Tryingtobehappy5]

My first telephone appt with my T was no good. She actually said she was surprised I agreed to talk on the phone because she knows how much I hate it. But they made the appt while I was IP so I just went with it.

I spend a lot of time quietly thinking in our appts and that quiet time doesnt work on the phone so it wasnt a deep conversation. She is calling me back friday to check on me again but Im not looking forward to it the way I do for normal appts.

Struggling with depression and addiction and getting back to normal life after a month IP and feeling like I have lost all real support for who knows how long is really getting to me.

I had my second video session with my therapist today. It went well again, but the video froze very briefly twice, and another time I had to log in again. I think I should have my video session with my psychiatrist from a different room in the house. Plus, hubby said he'd log off during my psychiatrist appointment tomorrow to perhaps help prevent future freezing. My appointment with pdoc is only 20 minutes, so I don't want time wasted with connection problems.

[luvyrself]

Mine went fine. I missed the nice drive through empty fields which is a nice getaway, but good to know that this option works fine.

[Polibeth]

I had my first teletherapy appointment today - it went fine except hubby and son were home so I couldn't do my usual complaining about them this week

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I mentioned in my 2nd phone session that I didn't like just phone so we tried a video thing. It froze about 3 times in as many minutes and we went back to the phone. That was the first time he tried the software so it may be he needed to adjust something or I may have been too far from the router (I just have a signal booster so I can use my mom's internet) or his wife was on their computer in another room so that could have been a factor. It was his first appointment from his brand new this weekend home office so I'm sure we'll figure it all out. We've got lots of weeks to practice.