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ONLINE SERVICES FAQ

How do I start?

If you make the decision to start you can contact me and request an appointment, send me a private email at claudia@niemtzoff.com or call me at (+1) 703-584-7565

 

What happens in the first session?

During the first session we will discuss what is concerning you and what you want to achieve with the therapy. At the end of the session we will discuss how you did feel working with me and if we agree to continue working together

 

How often do you meet with the clients?

Usually we will meet once a week for 50 minutes. We may agree to meet twice a week, f it is needed.

 

How long will the therapy be?

The length of the treatment depends on the concerns that brought you to therapy. Sometimes people want to explore a specific issue and when it is solved we may agree to end the treatment.  Other times the person was, for example,  depressed or was dealing with a relationship issue for a while, or wants to continue working on more long term issues or existential questions; so therapy can last more sessions. It depends, it is case by case and mutually agreed.

 

What happens if I am in a crisis?

If you are in a crisis: I will do my best to contact you as soon as possible, but regarding the distance and sometimes the different time zones, I cannot offer the emergency support for crisis situations. In those cases you can contact Befrienders Worldwide to see if they offer support in your country. If you are in United States please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

 

 

PROS AND CONS OF ONLINE THERAPY

Nowadays there is some controversy about the effectiveness and limitations of online psychotherapy.

 

PROS: 

Convenience: You can have your consultation right from your home or office. There is no interruption, in case you travel. There is no wasting time with commuting.

 

Available anywhere: if you live in a rural area, in a small town, in a conflict / war zone or have some difficulty to access to a counseling office, online therapy is a viable choice.

 

Comfort and privacy: some people feel less intimidated in a virtual counseling setting.

 

Technologically savvy: sometimes technological communication becomes more suitable than face to face, specially for new generations. 

 

New dynamic: online therapy adjusts more to the rapid pace of life and has a more flexible framework than the traditional face-to-face therapy. 

 

Safety and confidentiality: information you share with your therapist is kept confidential and is not shared with any third party.

 

CONS:

Absence of face-to-face contact is uncomfortable for some people. There might be lack of body language or verbal cues; that are part of the therapy experience. 

 

Possible technical issues: Online therapy implies the use of internet and devices.

Sometimes there might be issues like power outages or weak internet connection. 

I schedule consecutive clients with 10 minute breaks in order to have some buffer time between clients to overcome the technical issues. If the technical issue doesn't allow to continue the session then it  would be rescheduled.

 

Particular issues that are not recommendable for online therapy are suicidal or homicidal ideation. If that is the case it will be better to have face to face assessment before scheduling an online appointment.