All About Online Therapy

Can’t leave the house?  Let us come to you. Due to concerns related to COVID-19, so many of us have transitioned to working from home and sheltering in place to help slow the spread.  Events have been canceled, doors have been closed, and lives have been altered – but that doesn’t mean you can’t see your therapist! OC Psychology Center is proud to offer online therapy to our clients in Irvine, Newport Beach, and the greater Orange County area. This page helps answer your questions about teletherapy, how to meet your therapist online, how to get signed up. 

How Can Online Therapy Help Me?

Online Therapy is one form of telehealth.  While physicians use telehealth to provide medical health services to patients, psychotherapists can provide individual and couples and family therapy via teletherapy.  Telehealth and online therapy help clinicians provide our clients with easy, safe access to our services.  

Just like in-person therapy, online therapy can help you with a wide range of problems, such as:

• Feeling down, depressed, or hopeless

• Stress management

• Coping with anxiety or worry

• Mood swings

• Relationship issues and loneliness

• Difficulties with sleep

• Difficulty relaxing or focusing

• Dealing with developmental issues (ADHD, Autism, Learning Disabilities, etc.)

• Motivation and goal achievement 

• Grief and loss (death of a loved one, loss of career, etc.)

You and your therapist can work together as a team to make progress towards your goals, improve your life, and enhance your sense of wellbeing.  Here at OC Psychology Center, our team of expert therapists is dedicated to helping you make it through this difficult time.  

How does Online Therapy work?

Every practice differs in terms of how they offer online therapy.  Here at OC Psychology Center, we use a secure, fully confidential, HIPAA compliant video platform offered through our practice management system called Simple Practice. With Simple Practice our online therapy clients have the ability to attend their sessions remotely from anywhere on any device (i.e. smart phone, laptop, desktop or tablet).

Online therapy sessions go for the same amount of time as a regular therapy session and are scheduled for your convenience.  You can meet with your therapist any time during our usual hours and in the safety and comfort of your home or office.  

You don’t need any fancy tech to meet your therapist for online therapy, but you will need to have a good internet connection along with a smartphone or computer with a webcam.  You might also want to use headphones for increased privacy, if desired.  Your therapist will send you a link via email so that you can join your session.  At the time of the appointment, simply click the link and you’ll be directed to your video session. 

If at any point you are having trouble accessing your session or if you aren’t sure what to do next, please contact us!  Our team can help walk you through the steps and troubleshoot as needed.  Download a quick guide to getting started with online therapy. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Therapy(FAQ)

Are online therapy sessions confidential?

• Absolutely.  OC Psychology Center uses the highest standard of technology through Simple Practice to provide our services in a way that is safe, secure, and HIPAA compliant.  

What if I’m worried about being on video chat?

• Some people may feel a bit awkward or anxious the first time they try online therapy – that’s totally normal, and it gets easier once you’ve started.  But, if video doesn’t work for you, phone sessions may also be an option. 

I don’t have a private place to talk – what should I do?

• Feel free to contact us to get some help with problem-solving a space to do online therapy!  For example, some clients might sit in their car during the session or grab their headphones and take a walk around the block while video chatting with their therapist.

What if I try online therapy and it isn’t working for me?

• That’s okay!  Some people enjoy online therapy more than others.  We encourage everyone to give it a try to see what it’s like.  Who knows, you might even like it better than an in-person session!

How does billing work, and does insurance cover online therapy?

• Billing for online therapy and Telehealth works the same as in-person therapy at OC Psychology center.  Please note that we do not work directly with insurance companies.  We believe that not working directly with insurance companies allows us to provide better quality care and ensure a higher standard of client confidentiality.  If you would like to pursue partial reimbursement through your PPO plan, please let us know, and we will provide you with a superbill that you can send to your insurance provider. See more info about insurance at the bottom of this page.

Do you provide assessments via Telehealth?

• We can offer some assessment services remotely via Telehealth and online therapy. A number of personality tests, behavior inventories (i.e. for ADHD, anxiety and depression) can be completed online. If you require performance-based testing (i.e. neuropsychological testing or academic achievement testing) please call us to discuss options.   

What if I have technical issues before or during the session?

• Contact us by phone or email as soon as you notice something isn’t working – we are here for you.  In most cases technical issues are resolved by simply refreshing your screen, closing internet tabs and making sure your camera and headphones are working. 

How can OC Psychology Center help?

If you or your child are interested in our therapy or assessment services, contact OC Psychology Center for Assessment and Psychotherapy.  We would love to answer any questions you might have about the process. 

Our office is located in Newport Beach – but, thanks to teletherapy, we can work with you anywhere in the state of California.  

We work with families from all over the region – Newport Beach, Irvine, Orange, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Laguna Beach, Rancho Santa Margarita, Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills, Tustin, Seal Beach, and beyond.  

Read About the OC Psychology Center Team!

Want to learn more about our team of behavioral health specialists at the OC Psychology Center for Assessment and Psychotherapy?  Read about our credentials and areas of specialty!