How to Maintain Therapist-Client Relationship Boundaries in the Age of Telehealth
therapist.com Team
Whether telehealth has always been part of your practice, or a rapidly changing world required you to adjust, there’s no denying that this method of treatment is here to stay. In fact, many clients have come to prefer telehealth for the convenience and accessibility it affords them.
For clinicians, however, going the telehealth route might also require holding virtual sessions with your clients from your home—giving them a glimpse into your life that perhaps you’d rather keep private. This makes it even more necessary to set boundaries between you and your clients.
Try these strategies to protect your personal boundaries while seeing patients remotely.
Telehealth provides therapists with the unique opportunity to enter the client’s world. This can be a great opportunity for building rapport, especially with young clients. For instance, they can show you something they like in their space, like a favorite toy or a craft they’ve made.
However, for therapists who work out of their homes, be mindful that clients are also getting a unique look into your own world. Pictures of your family hanging on the walls may reveal more about yourself than you’d like your clients to know. Make sure your clients’ glimpse into your home is free of distractions or personal items that you wouldn’t want displayed in your office.
If possible, try working out of an area of your home that you don’t use very often for other purposes. In addition to declaring this space yours to work out of, being able to leave it at the end of the day will create a stronger work/home distinction.
You may even wish to consider adding a “virtual commute” to your routine. In place of driving to and from an office, performing a habit or ritual—such as making some tea, or taking a walk around the block—can serve to signal the start or end of your day.
For many therapists, telehealth has led to fewer last-minute cancellations. Despite this, it’s still important to set expectations with your clients so you don’t spend forty minutes on a video chat with no one but yourself.
Part of your intake process, whether conducting therapy in person or virtually, should be to provide clients with your no-show policy. This should include:
As always, keep your clients’ situations in mind when determining whether to impose financial penalties for missed sessions. Recognize that emergencies (and technical issues!) do happen and be willing to forgive occasional absences.
Clients who know they can connect with their therapist virtually can lead them to feel as though they can reach out more frequently. And while telehealth may afford you the opportunity to work more flexible hours, that doesn’t mean you need to constantly be checking your email.
Having specific contact hours is important even in traditional therapy settings, but it’s especially important if you’re conducting most of your sessions via telehealth. Be specific about setting hours for yourself where you can disconnect from phone calls, text messages, or emails.
In fact, it may be worth adding a digital communication policy to your intake forms. Consider crafting a document that covers:
In addition to doing what you can to protect your own boundaries, it’s equally important to make sure you’re doing the same for your clients. Your clients deserve a remote therapy experience that looks, sounds, and feels as professional as it does in a face-to-face session.
If you live in a home with other individuals, make sure they know when and where you conduct therapy sessions. If possible, use a headset during sessions to provide a more intimate feel. Consider purchasing a white noise machine to block out external noise and keep housemates from hearing what’s said during sessions.
With therapist.com you can list your practice for free, plus, get free tips and tools on how to grow your practice and advance your skills. Not to mention, with no contracts or credit cards needed, listing your practice with therapist.com is 100% risk—free. Claim your free profile today and let us do the work for you so you can focus on your clients!
For clinicians, however, going the telehealth route might also require holding virtual sessions with your clients from your home—giving them a glimpse into your life that perhaps you’d rather keep private. This makes it even more necessary to set boundaries between you and your clients.
Try these strategies to protect your personal boundaries while seeing patients remotely.
Craft Your Space with Care
Telehealth provides therapists with the unique opportunity to enter the client’s world. This can be a great opportunity for building rapport, especially with young clients. For instance, they can show you something they like in their space, like a favorite toy or a craft they’ve made.
However, for therapists who work out of their homes, be mindful that clients are also getting a unique look into your own world. Pictures of your family hanging on the walls may reveal more about yourself than you’d like your clients to know. Make sure your clients’ glimpse into your home is free of distractions or personal items that you wouldn’t want displayed in your office.
If possible, try working out of an area of your home that you don’t use very often for other purposes. In addition to declaring this space yours to work out of, being able to leave it at the end of the day will create a stronger work/home distinction.
You may even wish to consider adding a “virtual commute” to your routine. In place of driving to and from an office, performing a habit or ritual—such as making some tea, or taking a walk around the block—can serve to signal the start or end of your day.
Establish Rules for Scheduling & No-Shows
For many therapists, telehealth has led to fewer last-minute cancellations. Despite this, it’s still important to set expectations with your clients so you don’t spend forty minutes on a video chat with no one but yourself.
Part of your intake process, whether conducting therapy in person or virtually, should be to provide clients with your no-show policy. This should include:
- The window of time a client can cancel an appointment before you consider it a no-show
- The consequences of showing up late or not showing up at all
- How long you will wait on a virtual session before disconnecting the call
- The fees associated with missed appointments or last-minute rescheduling
As always, keep your clients’ situations in mind when determining whether to impose financial penalties for missed sessions. Recognize that emergencies (and technical issues!) do happen and be willing to forgive occasional absences.
Set Specific Contact Hours
Clients who know they can connect with their therapist virtually can lead them to feel as though they can reach out more frequently. And while telehealth may afford you the opportunity to work more flexible hours, that doesn’t mean you need to constantly be checking your email.
Having specific contact hours is important even in traditional therapy settings, but it’s especially important if you’re conducting most of your sessions via telehealth. Be specific about setting hours for yourself where you can disconnect from phone calls, text messages, or emails.
In fact, it may be worth adding a digital communication policy to your intake forms. Consider crafting a document that covers:
- What methods of contact clients can use to contact you
- How often you check and reply to messages, as well as hours you’ll be offline
- What kind of information should be shared in a text or email, and what should wait for a session
- Contact information for services in case of emergency
Protect Your Clients’ Boundaries
In addition to doing what you can to protect your own boundaries, it’s equally important to make sure you’re doing the same for your clients. Your clients deserve a remote therapy experience that looks, sounds, and feels as professional as it does in a face-to-face session.
If you live in a home with other individuals, make sure they know when and where you conduct therapy sessions. If possible, use a headset during sessions to provide a more intimate feel. Consider purchasing a white noise machine to block out external noise and keep housemates from hearing what’s said during sessions.
Grow Your Practice with therapist.com
With therapist.com you can list your practice for free, plus, get free tips and tools on how to grow your practice and advance your skills. Not to mention, with no contracts or credit cards needed, listing your practice with therapist.com is 100% risk—free. Claim your free profile today and let us do the work for you so you can focus on your clients!
