Virtual Counseling Services

We’re living in a digital era, one where people do just about everything online—including virtual counseling via telehealth video.

We shop online, we stay connected to friends and family through social media apps, we stream TV shows and movies, and now—with the advent of HIPAA-compliant telehealth—virtual counseling services are just as ubiquitous. 

Virtual counseling offers a host of benefits, making it an increasingly popular choice for both therapists and clients. 

But, what, exactly, is virtual therapy? What are the benefits? And, as a therapist, should you consider offering virtual counseling services or only stick with in-person sessions?

What is virtual counseling and how does it work?

As the name suggests, virtual counseling is a type of therapy that happens virtually—meaning the client and therapist meet while in different physical locations over an online video call or voice call.

Some therapists offer online virtual counseling as a backup option if clients can’t make it to a particular in-person session. For example, if one of their children is home sick from school or they run into transportation issues. 

Other therapists may prefer to run a hybrid practice, where they see both in-person and virtual clients on a regular basis. 

And some therapists have a fully virtual practice, meaning they hold sessions virtually 100% of the time. 

During virtual counseling sessions, therapists may speak to clients on the phone, via videoconference, or on an app with communication or calling capabilities. 

Virtual counseling services also allow therapists to use online assessments when evaluating their clients and virtually deliver  any treatments, exercises, or homework assignments.. For example, a therapist may send a client an eBook to read, or they may use a virtual whiteboard to illustrate concepts, or email exercises for clients to complete before their next session. 

One thing to keep in mind is that therapists must comply with all HIPAA regulations when running a virtual practice—which means it’s essential to use a HIPAA-compliant software, like SimplePractice, for all of their virtual sessions, client communications, and information and document storage.

Virtual counseling has become increasingly popular in recent years—particularly during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, offering virtual counseling services became the only way many therapists were able to continue to see clients. 

Even after COVID restrictions were lifted, many found that virtual care was more convenient and effective, and they opted to keep some or all aspects of their practice virtual. 

Benefits of offering virtual counseling 

Online virtual counseling offers a number of benefits for therapists, including:

Lower overhead costs

Running a virtual therapy practice can have significantly lower overhead costs. 

For example, if your practice is 100% virtual, you can conduct client sessions from home instead of renting office space—which can save thousands of dollars on rent, utilities, and other location-based expenses, like paid parking. 

Even if you opt to have a hybrid practice, costs are still lower than they would be if you were in the office full-time—particularly if you can find an office where you only pay for the days you’re on-site. For example, seeing clients in-person on Mondays and Wednesdays and sharing an office—and splitting the costs—with another therapist that sees clients on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Lower expenses overall 

Not only does seeing clients virtually save on direct business expenses, but it can lower expenses overall. 

For example, if you’re working from home, it’s easier to make your own lunch, saving on food costs. You don’t have to commute every day, so you’re saving on gas. And since you’re not seeing people in person, you can dress more casually, which could help you spend less on clothing.

Save time and make money 

Virtual counseling can increase your efficiency, which can mean more time to see clients and increase your revenue. 

With the features built into most practice management software, you can conveniently and efficiently streamline your private practice workflow—saving time on scheduling, billing and payments, client communications, and documentation.

Furthermore, virtual sessions via telehealth allow you to skip the commute—which, depending on your location, can save hours a day on transportation time. 

You can use the time it would normally take to commute to fit more clients into your schedule and increase revenue in the process, or you can use it to diversify your revenue stream with other professional pursuits. You could also use the time for self-care activities or time with family and friends.

Convenient for clients 

Virtual counseling services can be more convenient to clients as well, since they don’t have to leave their home and commute to an office. That convenience can be a major selling point when new clients are deciding whether they want to work with you.

Accessible care

With the convenience virtual therapy offers, clients aren’t limited to selecting a therapist within driving distance. They can see any therapist who is licensed in their state. 

The accessibility of virtual care is particularly impactful for rural places, or therapy deserts, for underrepresented communities, and for clients who need specialized services. 

Certain demographics of therapy seekers may be looking for therapists that have similar backgrounds, identities, or experiences to their own. For example, a Black client may feel that a Black therapist, or a therapist who has experience treating people of color, is better equipped to help them. A teen client who is questioning their sexuality may prefer seeing a LGBTQIA+ therapist. This is why many therapists include the populations they work with in their specializations. 

On the other hand, a client struggling with an eating disorder in a rural area may need to look for a therapist in a larger city to get the specialized treatment they need. With virtual counseling, this client can easily access specialized services without a long and grueling commute.

Better work-life balance 

Don’t have the time or energy to build your client waitlist? You can also use the time you save and give it back to yourself to create a better work-life balance—whether that means spending more time exercising, pursuing hobbies, or connecting with friends and family.

Types of virtual counseling services

When it comes to virtual counseling, there are a number of different services practitioners can offer, including:

• Virtual psychotherapy
  
• Virtual relationship counseling
  
• Virtual couples counseling
• Virtual marriage counseling
  
• Virtual speech therapy
• Virtual occupational therapy
• Virtual physical therapy

Essentially, just about any type of therapeutic service that doesn’t have a specific in-person component—like blood work, lab tests, or medical equipment—can be conducted virtually.

How to help clients find online virtual counseling

If you want to offer virtual counseling, you need to let potential clients know that working together virtually is an option. You can do this in a variety of ways, including:

Highlighting virtual therapy services on your website 

Many clients, particularly clients interested in online therapy, will start their search for a therapist online—which, in many cases, will lead them to your website. Make sure you clearly explain what kind of services you offer and when you offer those services virtually.

Updating online profiles and directories to include virtual options 

Many clients will also explore online directories when looking for a therapist. Make sure your profile on any and all relevant directories highlights your virtual therapy services.

Letting referral partners know that you see clients virtually 

Many therapists build their practice through referrals from other clinicians. 

In order to refer clients that would be a good fit for your practice, those clinicians need to know the details of what, exactly, you offer—including whether you see clients virtually. 

Make sure to let any potential referral partners know that you offer online counseling—and that they’re more than welcome to send referrals interested in virtual counseling your way. Use these helpful referral template letters to share with your network, and then follow-up with a referral thank you note. 

Options for virtual relationship or group counseling

When therapists are seeing one client, virtual counseling is pretty straightforward; the client is at one location, the therapist is at another, and treatment is administered or facilitated virtually.

But when you expand to working with couples, polyamorous clients (multiple committed partners), family, or group therapy, there are a number of different possibilities for how a session may play out. 

Here are a few examples:

Therapist in one location, clients in another 

Just like when working with a single client, therapists can conduct sessions with partners in the same location. For example, you’re working from your home office—and the couple you’re working with dials into the session from their home.

All participants in different locations 

Some couples or partnerships (long-distance relationships, or polyamorous ones) may opt to do therapy in different locations—in which case participants would be at three (or more) locations. 

Many HIPAA-compliant counseling practice management platforms, including SimplePractice, allow for multiple clients to attend a single session remotely—which would allow you to conduct this kind of virtual therapy.

Both in-person and virtual 

In certain situations, some partners may opt to see their therapist in person—while the other(s) join the session virtually. 

For example, a couple may regularly see their therapist in-person—but when one partner travels for work, they may opt to join the session virtually while they’re out of town.

Take your practice virtual—and watch it thrive

Offering virtual counseling sessions to clients can be a fantastic way to build your therapy practice. It’s convenient, and it can also help lower the costs of running your practice—and help you find better work-life balance in the process. 

How SimplePractice streamlines running your practice

SimplePractice is HIPAA-compliant practice management software with everything you need to run your practice built into the platform—from booking and scheduling to insurance and client billing.

If you’ve been considering switching to an EHR system, SimplePractice empowers you to run a fully paperless practice—so you get more time for the things that matter most to you.

Try SimplePractice free for 30 days. No credit card required.