PlayWorks Therapy Inc. is committed to ensuring your child receives quality services during this time of uncertainty and have transitioned to all online teletherapy sessions. We are looking forward to this virtual experience with you!
What is Teletherapy?
Teletherapy, also referred to as telehealth, is a type of therapy provided by your child’s therapist online through video chat, much like FaceTime, Skype, or Gchat. Although teletherapy is a new offering at PlayWorks Therapy, it is a model of therapy that has been used and researched in the field for several years. PlayWorks Therapy is remaining current with best practice and continuing to provide evidence-based therapy through this mode of therapy.
What can I expect from a Teletherapy appointment?
Depending on the type of therapy your child receives, the structure of the therapy session may differ slightly than the in-person appointments. The session itself may consist of the therapist reviewing goals and techniques with caregivers as well as assisting in choosing appropriate toys, games, and materials to target those goals. The therapist would then provide recommendations for how to use each material, including specific prompts to use throughout the activities. We realize that your child may not be as engaged or motivated to sit in front of a video so we require a parent or caregiver to be present or nearby for the majority of the session.
Will this really be a productive mode of therapy for my child?
Many providers have been using teletherapy as their primary mode of therapy over several years with success. Because the structure may look different than usual the in-person appointments, our expectation of what makes a “productive” or “successful” session may also change. Your child’s goals may shift slightly in this period but just know that every and any interaction your child has with their therapist informs their continued work. With a strong partnership, both the therapist and caregivers can use techniques with the child to reach targeted goals.
Won’t it be awkward that my child and the therapist are in different rooms?
At first, some children do find it slightly awkward or uncomfortable to work with therapists virtually. Below are strategies we recommend trying to increase your child’s comfort level with this new type of appointment:
- Find a space that works for you and your child. This does not need to be the quietest or cleanest room in your home; however, be mindful of the visual distractions (e.g. toys, games) in the room as this may affect your child’s attention. We recommend that you choose a favorite place or comfortable space you usually spend time in as this may help your child with the transition.
- Help your child settle in by allowing them to have a favorite toy or other comforting object with them.
- With supervision, allow your child understand the technology by gently touching the screen and exploring the different functions, provided by the therapist.
- Check in with others in your home to see if they want to be present or out of view for the session and ultimately let your child know who will be with them.
I’m not great with technology. Will this be challenging to set up?
In most cases, your teletherapy appointment will take place on a website or app platform. Your therapist will communicate with you about your child’s specific platform, and whether or not to download an app, based on what type of therapy they receive. Your therapist will then send you a confirmation email with the link and any other information you will need to access the appointment. It will be as simple as opening your email and selecting the link! You will then be directly connected to your therapist’s video chat.
I am in the appointment, but now I am experiencing a problem with the connection.
Below are technology tips to help you get the most of your therapy sessions:
- Be sure to switch on audio and video settings at the start of the session.
- Confirm a plan with your therapist in case the connection is abruptly ended.
- Check the use of additional devices. Streaming or heavy use on another device at the same time as your session may slow your connection and video quality.
- Having multiple tabs open on your device may also impact video quality.
- If possible, try not to sit in front of a bright window or light.
- Let your therapist know if you cannot see or hear them clearly – we want you to get the most of your session!
Questions or concerns?
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s eligibility for teletherapy, please contact us at info@playworkschicago.com or 773-332-9439.
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