Online Therapy in Washington DC
Whether you are in Dupont Circle, Shaw, Anacostia or Capital Hill, you can do virtual therapy with Monarch. We offer virtual therapy to individuals and couples living in the Washington DC area. Groups are often provided as well. Virtual therapy can be a great option for people who are very busy, those with limited mobility, people with chronic health concerns – or those who just do not want to brave the DC traffic in order to get to their therapist.
Virtual therapy also offers a way for some people to increase their comfort with receiving therapy. You can do it from the security of your own home, and even have your pets nearby!
Who Can Provide Online Therapy in Washington DC
The rule for therapist licensure is that therapist must be licensed “where the client’s feet are”. What that means for Washington DC residents is that to do therapy from home, you must work with a therapist who is licensed in Washington DC.
If you do not live district but want to work with one of our DC therapists, check if they have any additional licensures. Several of our therapists are dually licensed. Additionally, for some therapists you may be able to take a quick trip to Friendship Heights to see them in person at our Chevy Chase office. If you have an office in DC and would want to do therapy from there, you can work with a DC therapist even if you live in Virginia or Maryland. For more information about who can work where, please contact our offices.
Client Tips for Online Therapy
When you are doing online therapy, it is important to make sure that you are in a private space where you won’t be interrupted. Turn off notifications on your phone and limit other distractions. It’s also recommended that you try the link previous to the beginning of the session so that you don’t waste valuable session time if you have a technology issue. For more information about successfully engaging in online therapy, you can read Dr. Harron’s blog on the topic or visit the American Psychological Association’s telehealth page.
Online Therapy and Privacy Concerns
Many people worry that getting online therapy might mean that people could somehow access of watch their therapy session. Luckily, there are a great deal of rules in place to ensure that cannot happen. The first is HIPAA-level encryption. HIPAA is the extremely high standard that practices must meet in order to be able to provide online therapy. They must ensure that the data related to therapy sessions are encrypted so that nobody can access them. Monarch Wellness uses the Simple Practice platform, which not only encrypts therapy sessions to the HIPAA standard but also allows for clients to keep a card on file to be charged automatically and offers other conveniences as well.
Monarch Therapists Currently Offering Online Therapy in Washington DC:
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- Katie Zweig is uses parts work and experiential exercises to gently challenge eating disorders and low self-worth.
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- KP structures sessions with a CBT paradigm in mind and works with folks on anxiety, depression and life transitions.
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- Mary Blair Holden draws from attachment theory and exposure therapy to help teens and adults with eating disorders to heal.
Washington DC/Friendship Heights Hybrid Therapy
One option that many of our clients have been using is hybrid therapy. With this model, the therapist must be licensed (or supervised) in both Washington DC and Maryland, where our Friendship Heights offices are. The majority of your sessions take place online. Then, approximately once a month or once every other month, the DC resident travels to Friendship Heights to work the in-person component of the therapy.
Therapists offering Washington DC/Friendship Heights Hybrid Therapy:
Dr. Meg Seymour offers hybrid therapy for residents of DC. Dr. Seymour specializes in eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, and chronic health conditions. At this time, Dr. Seymour is only accepting adults onto her caseload. Please reach out to see if you and Dr. Seymour would be a good fit.