[DechanDawa]

I called my health care provider and arranged to have a counseling session on how to better manage anxiety and stress. They said it had to be a video session which I have never done. I was okay with it. But then I read directions online about how to do this. It said if on a laptop don't look at the screen image of the other person when talking...but look at the camera lens...so it will look to the other person like you are looking directly at them.

This struck me as very strange. They are insisting on a video so it will be like a face-to-face meeting...but you can't actually look at the other person's face on the screen while you are talking to them. This struck me as wacky!

I cancelled the meeting. I will wait until technology catches up to human interaction. I just don't see how this video method would engender a feeling of actually communicating with a person. I would rather do it on the phone but that wasn't allowed.


I would be up to do a video interview online if I needed it for a job. I would be able to do it because I would just be answering questions. It wouldn't matter to me so much about establishing rapport. I mean, I could be pleasant, but I would not be getting too personal in an interview so the lack of eye contact wouldn't matter.


Or...if I got a job and needed to do video meetings I think I would be okay.

But in my personal life...no. And in therapy situations...no. This doesn't bother me too much because I don't really like counseling or therapy anyway...feel very ambivalent about it. I can read books on anxiety.


I don't mind phoning or texting with friends/family.

[divine1966]

What kind of technology are they using? We do zoom meetings for work conferences/meetings (I know there was a debate about it being unsafe but there are ways now to keep us safe), we also do google meets (don’t like those). In both cases we all look at each other. Not at camera.

My husband does therapy over the phone, his therapist suggested video therapy , she never said he’d have to look somewhere else. They are just doing phone for now but if he decides otherwise I can tell you how it goes. He also facilitates one on one video meetings of his patients with their doctors, he said it works out ok. Just time consuming but patients don’t have specific complaints. It’s better than nothing during corona. Not sure what type of technology they use

I don’t know if face time would be appropriate? You surely look at each other when talking.

But overall I agree that it’s awkward. If you already know this therapist and now just talking on the phone is one thing. But if you never met and now doing this, it’s strange. I’d probably rather just talk on the phone. No video. I hear you

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by divine1966

What kind of technology are they using? We do zoom meetings for work conferences/meetings (I know there was a debate about it being unsafe but there are ways now to keep us safe), we also do google meets (don’t like those). In both cases we all look at each other. Not at camera.

My husband does therapy over the phone, his therapist suggested video therapy , she never said he’d have to look somewhere else. They are just doing phone for now but if he decides otherwise I can tell you how it goes. He also facilitates one on one video meetings of his patients with their doctors, he said it works out ok. Just time consuming but patients don’t have specific complaints. It’s better than nothing during corona. Not sure what type of technology they use

I don’t know if face time would be appropriate? You surely look at each other when talking.

But overall I agree that it’s awkward. If you already know this therapist and now just talking on the phone is one thing. But if you never met and now doing this, it’s strange. I’d probably rather just talk on the phone. No video. I hear you

Never met the counselor. She took a history over the phone and it was fine but said for actual sessions the provider insists on video.

I will have to research this technology more. I heard about Zoom being unsafe.


Yeah, I really don't know. If I record videos on my laptop I have to look at the lens. If not it appears as if I am looking down. Of course with video taping it doesn't matter.

I have heard other people on this site discussing this and saying they did not know where to look when doing a video meeting...so I guess the technology is new to all.

I decided I could personalize a good anxiety reduction program on my own so that's what I've been doing this weekend. Just working on it reduced my anxiety. So action reduces reaction.

[downandlonely]

When I do meetings, I look at the other person, not at the camera. No one has ever told me to look at the camera.

[divine1966]

Originally Posted by DechanDawa

Never met the counselor. She took a history over the phone and it was fine but said for actual sessions the provider insists on video.

I will have to research this technology more. I heard about Zoom being unsafe.


Yeah, I really don't know. If I record videos on my laptop I have to look at the lens. If not it appears as if I am looking down. Of course with video taping it doesn't matter.

I have heard other people on this site discussing this and saying they did not know where to look when doing a video meeting...so I guess the technology is new to all.

I decided I could personalize a good anxiety reduction program on my own so that's what I've been doing this weekend. Just working on it reduced my anxiety. So action reduces reaction.

Zoom is unsafe if the host doesn’t properly closes the meeting at the end of it or if random people are given a code and then enter wrong meetings. Other than that it’s fine.

Good for you working on reducing your anxiety.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by divine1966

Zoom is unsafe if the host doesn’t properly closes the meeting at the end of it or if random people are given a code and then enter wrong meetings. Other than that it’s fine.

Good for you working on reducing your anxiety.

This whole video thing is really intriguing. Thanks for the info. I want to research this and get to know what everyone is doing. And how.

Yeah, I didn't really need hand holding on the anxiety thing. Anyway...am now calling it stress induced anxiety to differentiate it from other kinds. Yeah, I have a lot of work to do, Divine, but feel inspired. Thanks.

[possum220]

If you are logged into a one to one meeting on zoom then it is encrypted and mostly safe. That rule does not apply when a number of people are accessing the same meeting on zoom then it is not encrypted and then any hacker who wants to can listen in.

[MsLady]

Gawd, I canceled all my appointments because I was told they HAD to be video chats. Just thinking about it spikes my anxieties. I'd think looking at the camera vs the person might be easier to do? Maybe tape a piece of paper over their face?

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by MsLady

Gawd, I canceled all my appointments because I was told they HAD to be video chats. Just thinking about it spikes my anxieties. I'd think looking at the camera vs the person might be easier to do? Maybe tape a piece of paper over their face?

Thanks for sharing this. Funny, too!

[*Beth*]

I can't stand telemedicine. I think it's baloney. A few years ago, for a year, I had to see a pdoc by telemedicine (from the clinic). I hated it. I like the doctor, it wasn't that. But the medical care is absolutely not as refined as it is IRL. And to pay the same amount for telemedicine as one would for an in-person appointment?....pfffft. Give me a break.

[DechanDawa]

Originally Posted by BethRags

I can't stand telemedicine. I think it's baloney. A few years ago, for a year, I had to see a pdoc by telemedicine (from the clinic). I hated it. I like the doctor, it wasn't that. But the medical care is absolutely not as refined as it is IRL. And to pay the same amount for telemedicine as one would for an in-person appointment?....pfffft. Give me a break.

Thanks so much for sharing this insight. Is telemedicine really a word that is used? You see, I had a gut feeling, that I would not benefit from video counseling. It actually kind of creeped me out. As I said above...I would put up with it for work meetings...but therapy? Nah. And I don't face-time with friends and family. My son is always busy and when we talk he is multi-tasking...shopping, doing laundry, walking his dogs...he would not be happy just sitting in front of a screen staring at my face. I really want to do more research on this. I mean...I am so glad you shared your story because I really didn't want to do video counseling...but now my health care provider is making it a non-negotiable. So then...no counseling for me.

[arich62]

I don't like video chatting either and have stayed away from Zoom meetings. It has to be either face to face or phone calls.

[*Beth*]

Yes, telemedicine is the term used for healthcare done by video.


A big problem for me was that the image was off-color and sometimes jumpy. And there's a big face you are looking at...it's just creepy.

[wing]

I tried video therapy and wasted about 15 minutes of the session trying to get it set up. She was using some program made especially for health professionals I’d never heard of. Switched to FaceTime for 2 appointments but cancelled the next two because I just do not feel a personal connection close enough to share, plus I have to go out to my car for privacy.

[Fury]

My simple solution?

"For some reason my computer does not have the driver to make the camera work, and the site doesn't have any drivers for it either. I don't know why, but it just WILL NOT acknowledge the fact that it has a camera at all. Can we just use voice for now?"

No issues. I turned off my camera before starting the call.