What Are the Adaptations School Counselors Make for Virtual Or Remote Sessions?
Counselor Brief
What Are the Adaptations School Counselors Make for Virtual Or Remote Sessions?
In exploring how counseling professionals have adapted their techniques for virtual or remote sessions, we’ve gathered insights from a Licensed Professional Counselor and Executive Director. While these experts provide detailed strategies, we’ve also included additional answers to offer a broader perspective. From maintaining strong therapeutic connections virtually to facilitating group video peer support, here are various ways counselors are navigating the digital landscape.
- Maintain Strong Therapeutic Connection Virtually
- Engage Children with Digital Playrooms
- Utilize Client's Home Environment
- Use Online Emotional Assessments
- Incorporate Interactive Digital Activities
- Implement Secure Messaging Systems
- Schedule Regular Virtual Check-Ins
- Facilitate Group Video Peer Support
Maintain Strong Therapeutic Connection Virtually
Adapting my counseling techniques to support virtual sessions has required creativity and flexibility to maintain a strong therapeutic connection. I use a secure telehealth platform that sends email and text reminders to clients, complete with step-by-step directions on how to log in, which helps ensure smooth access to sessions. With a lot of patience and the ability to think on my feet, I’ve become adept at handling any technical difficulties that arise, often guiding clients through troubleshooting in real-time.
Developing rapport virtually is a priority, and I achieve this by being warm and attentive, using active listening and empathy to create a comfortable atmosphere. I incorporate visual aids and digital tools to make sessions interactive, which helps keep clients engaged, especially younger ones. One challenge I faced was a client struggling with connectivity issues, which disrupted our sessions. To overcome this, I arranged for us to use a backup communication method, like a phone call, to ensure continuity in our work together.
I also send detailed follow-up emails summarizing our sessions and providing additional resources, which helps reinforce our discussions and maintain progress between meetings. When working with families, I ensure everyone has access to the virtual platform and provide guidance on how to effectively participate, fostering a collaborative environment. By using these strategies, I’ve been able to adapt my counseling techniques to support clients effectively in a virtual setting, ensuring they receive consistent and high-quality care.
Engage Children with Digital Playrooms
As a child psychologist, the shift to telehealth was initially challenging. We quickly had to learn how to engage children online, without our usual toys and games (tools of the trade). We learned how to use what is the child's environment, like sensory scavenger hunts, as well as games or activities requiring no supplies (e.g., This or That, I Spy) to engage. Making an online digital playroom that the child can actually manipulate was a big step forward. Using a digital whiteboard solved the problem of how to teach, draw, and discuss in an interactive way. We found videos to practice mindfulness, teach psychoeducational concepts, and provide color to our strategies. Suddenly, working with children online was doable and even highly successful.
Utilize Client's Home Environment
Since going fully virtual as a therapist post-COVID, I have adapted my counseling techniques to include utilizing the client’s environment and supports during sessions, such as their pets or comfortable surroundings like pillows or blankets. Clients being in their own home can be a safe space for them to process trauma and go deeper in sessions. An obstacle that also comes from this is family members being at home and the client feeling worried about being overheard, therefore not sharing authentically during sessions. This can be overcome using a white-noise machine, asking family members to leave the house during sessions, or the client going to their car or doing a phone session while walking.
Use Online Emotional Assessments
School counselors have started using online emotional and behavioral assessments to better understand the needs of their students. These tools help to identify issues that may not be visible in a remote setting. By adapting these assessments to an online format, counselors can provide more targeted and effective support.
It's crucial for students to feel understood and supported, even when they are not physically at school. To enhance care, let's invest in and promote the use of these online assessment tools.
Incorporate Interactive Digital Activities
Counselors are turning to interactive digital activities to keep students engaged during virtual sessions. These activities can range from quizzes to interactive storytelling, all designed to make remote learning more dynamic. Engaging students through such innovative methods can help in maintaining their interest and participation.
Effective engagement can significantly improve a student's emotional and mental well-being. Let's encourage the use of creative digital activities in virtual counseling sessions.
Implement Secure Messaging Systems
To provide continuous support, school counselors implement secure messaging systems. These systems allow students to reach out whenever they need assistance, creating a reliable and safe channel for communication. It ensures that students have access to help beyond scheduled sessions.
This ongoing support can be critical for students dealing with stress or anxiety. Encourage the use of secure messaging to foster a consistent support system.
Schedule Regular Virtual Check-Ins
Regular virtual check-ins and follow-ups have become a staple in remote counseling practices. These scheduled sessions help in building a routine and a sense of normalcy for students, which can be particularly beneficial during uncertain times. Keeping consistency in communication can build trust and make students feel more connected to their counselors.
This regular interaction can play a key role in a student's emotional stability. Advocate for consistent virtual check-ins to maintain strong student-counselor relationships.
Facilitate Group Video Peer Support
Group video sessions are being utilized to provide peer support among students. These sessions help in recreating the social environment of a physical school, which is vital for a student's social development. Engaging with peers in a guided setting can help students feel less isolated and more understood.
This peer support can significantly contribute to their overall well-being and reduce feelings of loneliness. Let's support the incorporation of group video sessions to nurture peer relationships.