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5 Must-Haves for Your Teletherapy Home Office

Working from home to provide therapy to students around the country is a dream job! There is no commute, you are in the comfort of your own home, and you have control over your own schedule. To get started, and make your teletherapy dreams come true, there are a few must-haves for your teletherapy office.

Essentials for your work-from-home office setup

To be successful working your at-home teletherapy practice, your office setup needs to be comfortable and efficient. Try to have a dedicated space in a low-traffic area – one that you can close the door on after the work day ends. Here are some of the essentials for your home office.

1. Reliable internet connection

If you want to work online, you’ve got to BE online! Reliable, secure, and private internet access is key, so don’t scrimp here. Make sure you have fast download and connection speeds and, if needed, get boosters or hotspots for your home.

2. Computer with camera and mic

To do your teletherapy job, you must have a reliable computer, webcam, and microphone. You can either use the camera and mic built into your computer or you can plug in an external camera or mic in. Some therapists opt for a headset with a built-in microphone. These are useful if you have frequent neighborhood noises like lawn care services, delivery trucks, or barking dogs

Choose a computer that you know will be able to handle a lot of use, hold a lot of storage (it’s basically your material storage now!) and have good speed. Whether you choose a desktop or laptop, PC or Mac, is up to you.

If you really want to deck out your work space, having an external monitor is wonderful. Lifewire says, “The expanded desktop real estate is great for work activities, like comparing documents, writing emails or articles while referring to online research, and general multi-tasking.”

3. Good lighting

Not always thought of at first, but lighting is crucial. Not only does it make for a more pleasant workspace, but good lighting is known to increase productivity. You also want your students to be able to see you in your best light.

If you can place your desk next to a window – not too bright where there is a glare and not too dark where they can’t quite see you. A few tricks are to make sure there are no windows or lights behind you and that you have a natural light somewhere in front of you.

According to Highfive.com, you should position your camera at eye-level and keep the positioning constant. They suggest using straight-ahead primary lighting with your primary light source close behind the camera, coming from the same direction your camera is pointing.

4. Comfy chair

At E-Therapy we love getting up with our students to move around during fun activities. But, you will find yourself seated often in teletherapy sessions; you may have back-to-back sessions or short pauses between sessions – enough to type a quick note and log in for your next session. Opt for a comfy, supportive chair designed for maximum support and comfort to keep your back, shoulders and neck happy.

5. Quiet space

And of course, your office space itself is important! Big open spaces with lots of room or tiny little nooks can work for your teletherapy office needs. Just make sure you have a door you can close to keep it private and quiet during those sessions.

These are the essentials you need for creating your teletherapy home office. Once you are ready to go, reach out to us!

Still wondering if online therapy is for you? Here are some reasons why our teletherapists love working from home and some pros and cons of being an online therapist.

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E-Therapy Families Give To The Community

This holiday season our E-Therapy family is giving back to the community. E-Therapy account manager, Jen, spent the weekend gathering supplies and packing donation boxes with her two boys. Jen says she gives to others,

“Because even one act of kindness or generosity has the potential to change lives and hearts; not just someone else’s but my own as well. It helps me focus on the uniqueness and worth of every human being no matter how different we may be.”

Jen’s boys love getting in on the fun and helped her to pack a huge stack of gift boxes this year!

E-Therapy account manager, Kati, and her family had a blast putting together donation packages this year. Kati’s kids love being included in the gift giving, and knowing that the gifts are going to other children! She says their favorite part was picking out the gifts at the local toy store.

Kati’s family inspired her church group and wider community to get involved with the gift giving as well. What a wonderful way to spread some holiday cheer and truly make a positive impact!

And last but not least! Here I am with my little guy, Charlie, getting into the holiday spirit! Charlie was happy to be along for the ride as we shopped for gift donations. We gathered so many great items, like toys and school supplies, to donate as holiday presents for children in need.

Although Charlie doesn’t quite understand the concept of what we are doing just yet, I hope as we continue this tradition of giving in years to come that he will grow to understand the importance of thinking of others…at the holidays, and all year long!

This article first appeared on the E-Therapy blog at: https://www.electronic-therapy.com/blog/e-therapy-families-give-to-the-community/

Best Practices for Using Teletherapy in an IEP Meeting

If you are using teletherapy in your school, or considering adding in these services, you might be wondering how it works when you have something beyond the usual therapy services, such as an IEP meeting. It works a lot like a regular IEP meeting, but there are a few things to consider to make sure you get the most out of each meeting and to ensure they are as secure as possible.

Using teletherapy in IEP meetings

Here are some of best practices for using teletherapy in IEP meetings:

Video conferencing to see the IEP
- While a phone conference can work for your IEP meetings, video conferencing is best. This ensures that everyone, whether using their cameras or not to see each other, can see the IEP as you all go through it together.
Everyone has a mic or can call in to share info and discuss
- Having a microphone to speak, or calling in, is also important. This way everyone can have a chance to share any updates or ideas they have for your students, as well as add any additional input as the team creates and finalizes the IEP together.
Be able to edit your IEP as needed during the meeting
- Using a platform that helps you to share your screen, so you can edit the IEP live together is also best practice. When doing this, the team is able to see the edits and make sure everything the student needs is updated and reflects their present levels and needs.
Follow HIPAA and privacy compliance
- When you do choose a video conferencing software or site, make sure that it is secure, so you are following HIPAA and privacy compliance laws. Not all sites are secure and ensure your privacy, but there are many that do and can be used for IEP meetings, therapy sessions, classroom conferences, etc.
Send draft to all team members in case anyone needs to call in ahead of time
- As with any IEP meeting, whether virtual or in-person, having a draft of the IEP sent out to team members is crucial. In the virtual setting, this helps you make sure that everyone who is attending the teletherapy IEP meeting can see it, whether or not it is shared on the screen or they are calling in for the meeting.
- To share these, make sure you use a secure portal or password protect the IEP.

In the teletherapy world, whether you are a virtual school or traditional setting, IEP meetings are a part of your therapy and school services. In order to provide the best services, you can use these techniques and more for your online IEP meetings.

Learn more about teletherapy

Teletherapy, sometimes called telepractice or online therapy, is a great resource to have in your school district, whether you are a virtual school or brick and mortar. It can help you provide services to students that otherwise might not receive them and have more therapists on hand then you could otherwise. For the most part, it works the same way as in-person therapy, because it is still face-to-face, just sometimes from across the country!

To learn more about teletherapy, check out the telepractice resources and organizations that we have gathered for you and contact us at info@electronic-therapy.com to see how we can help provide services to your schools.

Start Your Own Telepractice or Join a Teletherapy Company?

Teletherapy can be a great way for therapists to branch out, refresh their careers, and work with students and clients from all over the country. It can also be a fantastic way to build more income, especially if you live in a remote area without many opportunities.

How do you get started in teletherapy and what you will need?

The process is relatively simple and very similar to getting started in any setting, with a few key pieces that help you to take your practice online.

Start a private practice or join a company

Something to consider when getting started in teletherapy is how you will receive and take on referrals for clients and students. You can venture out on your own as a private practice or you can work with an established teletherapy company. Either way has its benefits and risks.

Starting your own Telepractice

Venturing out on your own means you are responsible for all licensing, insurance, tax, marketing, billing, and building a client list, plus bunches of other small-business and compliance related things. It takes a lot of leg work, but fortunately there are many agencies and organizations that help people establish their own small business. If it exhausts you just reading through the list, then it may be too much for you now.

You are also responsible for your own technology. Teletherapy is built on video-conferencing tech, but happily there are many popular video conferencing platforms out there – Zoom, GoToMeeting, even Facebook Live. Choose one that you are comfortable using, then learn it well, so if anything goes wrong during a live session, you won’t panic.

Truthfully, setting up your own telepractice is a lot of work at the beginning, but once you get everything up and rolling, it should work fairly automatically. The best part is that you get to keep anything you bring in financially!

Working with an established Telepractice company

If you work with a teletherapy company, all the behind-the-scenes business details are taken care of. They will provide you with the proper paperwork and give you instructions that make it easy and quick. Companies, like E-Therapy have a team in place that handles things like billing and insurance, so you will not have to worry about learning how to keep track of these tasks.

Obtaining clients is easy too. For example, E-Therapy has hours for a particular state and can assign you referrals. You get to decide when you want to work, having total control over your own schedule.

How to find reputable Teletherapy companies

When you are ready to get started in teletherapy, try a simple Google search for companies that are hiring in your state or in a state that you would be willing to get licensed in. Once you find a few different teletherapy companies, see which ones fit your needs. It is important to look at things like hourly rates or salary, states and hours that are available, indirect vs direct time, how referrals come in, platforms used, and the overall “feel” of the company. This will help you decide if it is the right place for you to start your journey into teletherapy.

Submit your credentials to E-Therapy

E-Therapy works with more than 150 therapists and the need for more is growing. If you are interested in joining our team to provide live face-to-face online Speech-Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy or Counseling/Social Work and Assessments/Diagnostics, then sign up as a therapist here.

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How Teletherapy Benefits Students and Schools

Teletherapy can be a wonderful way to connect to new faces and places as a therapist, and for schools it can help you provide all of your students the services they need.

Benefits of teletherapy for Students

Smaller groups sizes or individual sessions

For any students, working in a small group or individually for therapy is a big change – and often in a good way. They get one-on-one time with an adult who is there to help them learn and grow, and they get to focus on what THEY are interested in (games, videos, stories, etc) for a small part of their day.

If they are in a group, it is usually smaller, so there is more time to dedicate to each students needs and goals.

Student love computers

Many students only get to “play” on computers or watch videos as a treat. So when they come to therapy and this is what you do for your session, they fully enjoy it!

Students are also able to offer suggestions for games and activities they love to use, that may help them to reach their goals.

Get to share interests in sessions

Technology is everywhere and students are so engaged in it. By being part of that world, they are able to share with you their interests and computer skills, which can help them feel more involved and engaged in working towards their therapy goals.

Benefits of teletherapy for schools

Reach schools that have a difficult time staffing

Many rural schools and inner city schools have a difficult time finding staff, due to long commutes, no space for classrooms, etc. Having a virtual therapist means they can often cut down on the costs of staffing another room, give everyone more space, and have all students needs met.

Virtual students can attend therapy, too

For virtual schools, there is no building to attend school, so it can be difficult to provide all services for the students. With teletherapy, all students, no matter where they are, can get the services they are required to have.

Whether you are a school, student or therapist looking to pursue teletherapy, there are so many benefits and ways that it can work for you and those you work with!

Want to get started in Teletherapy?

If you are a therapist ready to get started or find out more about teletherapy, head over to our “Join the Team” page, where you can

We will contact you with a school or need that fits what you are looking for. You’ll also get access to our monthly newsletter with even more exclusive and up-to-date info on being a teletherapist.

If you are a school interested in adding this service into your district or find out more info, reach out to us. We will get back to you in a jiffy!

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The Essential Guide to What Teletherapy Is and Who Uses It

Many clinicians flock to teletherapy for more flexibility in their schedules, more job opportunities and even to reduce the stress of a daily commute.

Teletherapy has grown in popularity over the last decade as a way for therapists of all kinds to offer their services via an online or virtual setting through live interactive video conferencing. This type of online therapy is referred to by different names:

Teletherapy
Telepractice
Telehealth
Internet Therapy
E-Therapy
Electronic Therapy
Online Counseling

What is teletherapy?

The short answer: it’s just like any other therapy, only online.

The American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA) describes teletherapy as a type of delivery where a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) provides therapy and audiology services to a client using technology to bridge the distance.

Teletherapy is similar to the telehealth or telemedicine models which deliver services from a remote location using telecommunications technologies, but specifically focuses on the therapy practices used in educational settings, such as

Speech Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Counseling Services

Many different disciplines have since started using teletherapy as a model for their practice, refining it as technology improves. It is now being used in private practices, schools, and clinics with all ages and ranges of clients by Speech-Language Pathologist, Occupational Therapists (OT), Physical Therapists (PT), and Mental Health Counselors.

For rural schools and districts, who have difficulties hiring and keeping professional therapists, teletherapy is an effective means to provide therapy to their students in a convenient and engaging way, plus it helps therapists avoid long travel times.

How does teletherapy work?

With teletherapy, you and your client log into an online “room” or portal of some kind, much like you would if you were video conferencing or video chatting, to attend the therapy session. You are able to see each other, face-to-face, and communicate live, just as you would in an office or classroom.

With most video conferencing platforms, you are also able to share your screen, so any worksheets, activities, or sites you want to use during your session, you are able to share with your client.

According to ASHA,

“Teletherapy must be of equal quality to the therapy that would be provided in person. Each state has its own specific rules and regulations surrounding teletherapy.”

Teletherapy is HIPAA compliant and legal, with specific variations from state to state.

Who is teletherapy for?

Innovative technology for rural schools

Teletherapy is a great option for schools, especially in rural districts, that may not be able to find a therapist in their area due to long commutes, shortage of therapists, or the need to drive from school to school to cover services. Offering teletherapy services helps your school district meet these needs by bringing the therapist to you remotely. This way, you can hire therapists licensed in your state from all over the country, without having to worry about drive time or traveling from site to site. It can also help if you are limited on space in your buildings, as the therapist will be working from their own home office.

If you are in a virtual school, home-school your students, or even work in a private school setting, teletherapy can be the perfect solution to help you meet your students’ IEP needs, without having to switch your setting or schooling desires. Therapists can be contracted in to work with your students, no matter where you are or what type of school, so you are able to continue learning from where you are, while getting the school-based therapy services your students need.

Remote opportunities for professional therapists

Teletherapy is a great option for therapists that otherwise would not have many opportunities in their area or patients that are not able to make it to a clinic.

Many clinicians flock to teletherapy for more flexibility in their schedules, more job opportunities and even to reduce the stress of a daily commute.

For many, it is about harnessing more time in their day, and for others it is about connecting with and helping people all around the world whom they might not meet otherwise. Whatever the draw to the setting is, there is no denying that teletherapy is growing and many therapists are looking to it as an exciting trajectory for their career.

Many people wishing to start working teletherapy reach out to teletherapy companies, like E-Therapy, that will either employ them or contract with them for clients, while others choose to start their own private practices.

When you are asking yourself, “What it teletherapy?” the main thing to remember is this: It’s just like any other therapy, only online.

You get to reach out to people who otherwise might not get therapy services. You can work with all ages in all settings and you get the added benefits of being in your own location, using fun online activities that are functional, engaging and your clients will love.

With teletherapy, the possibilities are limitless!

Want to get started in Teletherapy?

If you are a therapist ready to get started or find out more about teletherapy, head on over to our “Join the Team” page, where you can sign up as a therapist and we will contact you with a school or need that fits what you are looking for. You’ll also get access to our monthly newsletter with even more exclusive and up-to-date info on being a teletherapist.

If you are a school interested in adding this service into your district or find out more info, reach out to us. We will get back to you in a jiffy!

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Five Ways Teletherapy Benefits Therapists

Teletherapy is becoming more and more popular as the school years come and go. And with good reason! Technology is all around us and will continue to play a huge role in children’s lives in the future. It only makes sense to bring it into therapy practices for everyone to reap the benefits of it all around.

Even beyond technology, there are many benefits to getting started in teletherapy – either as a therapist or a school.

Therapists Benefit from Teletherapy

Teletherapy supplements your practice

Teletherapy can be added to your current practices whether you are in private practice, serve a school, etc. If you want to fill in some times during your day when you could be seeing patients, but don’t have anyone nearby to see, teletherapy can help fill in those gaps.
It is also great for reaching clients/students/patients that otherwise can’t make it into your office due to lack of transportation, mobility issues, or just busy schedules.

Scheduling options

With many teletherapy companies, especially if you contract with them, you get the freedom to decide when and how much work you are able to do. This means you can set up a schedule that works for YOUR needs, give yourself breaks when you need them, and start/stop your day when it works for you.

If you are adding teletherapy into your own practice, you get to say when you will be signing in. You can fill up times that you need to fill, or leave some space to grab coffee or lunch with a friend.

Plus, no matter if you are going solo or joining a team, you’ll be in the comfort of your own home so you can grab coffee, wear yoga pants, and make your own snacks and lunches as you please.

No commute time for therapists or students

One BIG time saver and “plus” for many people looking into teletherapy is the lack of a commute. Not only does this mean no more sitting in traffic all morning and all afternoon, it means giving yourself more TIME in your day. You can see more clients during these times, or just sit back and relax before “heading into the office”.

Smaller caseload size

Feeling like you have WAY too many students to juggle and too many schedules to work around? Teletherapy can often help reduce this workload for you.

Many teletherapy students come from online or virtual settings, where they attend school at home. For these students, you’ll be able to see them individually. This lessens the amount of “groups” you have during your day, which can help to lessen your overall caseload.

If you do have groups of students from Brick and Mortar schools, signing on virtually, they are often limited to 2 or 3 students, not 4 or 5 like many in-person school based sessions. With this smaller amount per group, it helps to keep your caseload in check.

Connection to team members and families

When you work virtually with students in their homes, you often connect with the families to set up sessions, troubleshoot and get updates on the student. This can be a HUGE change for many therapists, who only see the parents and families during annual meetings. Teletherapy can help you really get to know more about your student and their life and experiences, so you are better able to help them meet their needs.

Since a lot of communicating with the team is through email, it can be really simple to give updates, ask questions and stay in touch with the progress your student is making, how they are doing in school, and what the team needs from you.

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E-Therapy Teletherapists are Doing Bright Things in 2020

This week we celebrated MLK Day 2020, and using that as our inspiration, we want to talk about dreams. Dreams are the things that can move us forward, give us hope and make the world a better place.

As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said,

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

Teletherapy facilitates a breakthrough for a student with chronic absenteeism

In 2020, we have set our intention to continue the growth and work that E-Therapy accomplished in 2019, and expand upon it to help our students gain even more success.

Here’s a story of a high school student who recently made a breakthrough because of teletherapy.

“I had a student (9th grade, first year in online school) pass 6 of his classes this semester and make an A in History. He was really excited and could hardly believe it (he usually fails all of his classes).
This is a student who had major attendance issues in his previous school and when he first started with us this year, but he has turned it around, increased his attendance since late October, and is doing really well. He has taken ownership of his school work and is really proud of himself.”
– Daniel, LSSP

Our students have dreams that teletherapy can fulfill

The students we work with, no matter what age or ability, have big dreams for their futures. It is the dream of our students to be able to learn, to be heard, to communicate, to participate, to move, to feel safe, and to thrive in life. Sometimes a seemingly simple thing can make all the difference, as illustrated by this story about a young teletherapy student.

“I had a student who was so proud of his success with the /r/. He had been working for years with other therapists and he finally understood the correct positioning and is successfully using the /r/ in words and sentences!”
– Melissa, SLP

E-Therapy fulfills therapists dreams

At E-Therapy, it is our dream to help make that happen and it brings us so much joy when it does. Our therapists, from all disciplines, work with the schools, educators and parents, as a team, to help students shoot for their dreams and reach for their goals.

It is in working together that dreams can come true and students can feel successful.

“This is my first experience providing PT services over a teletherapy platform. I was not really sure what to expect given the “hands on” nature of my profession. I have been able to establish a connection with a student that I have had to work really hard for. He is not thrilled about PT (as many of my patients feel); however, over the last month he has been able to increase his ROM, increase his repetitions of therapeutic exercise, and has required decreased rest breaks. However, the best part of our sessions have been the smiles and laughter that I thought I might never observe during our sessions.”
– René, PT

There are bright things ahead for our students, schools, and therapists, and we are so excited for all this year has in store!

E-Therapy strives to deliver the highest excellence in teletherapy solutions to schools and students throughout the United States with passion, experience, reliability and smarts. We are here to be your extended team and help you be the superheroes that you need to be every day at school. Services include live face-to-face online Speech-Language, Occupational, and Physical Therapy as well as Mental Health/Counseling/Social Work and Assessments/Diagnostics.

This article originally showed up on the E-Therapy blog at https://www.electronic-therapy.com/blog/bright-things-ahead-for-e-therapy-in-2020