The Teletherapy Starter Pack: 5 Skills You Need to Succeed
Starting teletherapy can feel overwhelming, but building a few key skills will set you up for success. These are the top five skills that helped me thrive in the virtual therapy world—and how you can develop them too.
1. Know Your Technology
Familiarity with your technology is non-negotiable in teletherapy. This includes understanding your internet setup, your platform (Zoom, Google Meet, or another), and your device. Lighting also plays a big role in presenting yourself professionally and maintaining engagement - not so much “because of what you look like” but because you need your client or student to be able to see your face with ease. Perhaps most importantly, learning to move fluidly between programs during a session will make everything run smoother for you and your clients.
Actionable Tip: Practice navigating your teletherapy platform until it feels natural. Set up mock sessions with a friend or colleague to test transitions between programs and tools. The more comfortable you are with your technology, the more confident you’ll feel during live sessions.
2. Seek Feedback and Practice
Like many skills in life, teletherapy gets easier with practice. Schedule time to practice specific actions, like sharing your screen or sound, and ask for feedback to ensure success. For instance, I had to actively remind myself to "share sound" on Zoom and practiced this repeatedly with a colleague until it became second nature.
Actionable Tip: Find a buddy to practice with. Who will you set up a practice call with today? Bonus: Share this blog with them to inspire mutual growth.
3. Utilize Resources
When I had questions about an app or program, YouTube became my best friend. A quick search often led me to tutorials that answered my questions. When that wasn’t enough, I would meet with a colleague and work through the issue together. There’s no shame in seeking support when needed—it’s all part of learning.
Actionable Tip: Use YouTube and other online resources specific to your platform and device (e.g., Apple or Windows) to build your knowledge base. Bookmark helpful tutorials for future reference.
4. Manage Your Session
Managing a virtual session requires its own set of skills. Knowing how to mute/unmute clients, troubleshoot microphone or headphone issues, and guide them through their own technical challenges is essential. These small actions keep sessions running smoothly.
Actionable Tip: Create a mini “tech guide” for common troubleshooting steps to share with clients or caregivers. This can save valuable time during sessions.
5. Adapt and Stay Open
Teletherapy often involves trial and error. Be patient with yourself as you navigate new challenges and find creative ways to adapt your in-person skills to the virtual environment. Flexibility is key to growing in this field.
Developing these skills takes time and practice, just like the progress we expect from our clients. Who will you schedule a practice call with today? Send them this post and get started together!
