Teaching aids for teletherapy
In a traditional setting, a therapist has access to a variety of teaching aids, or tools, to use when working with clients. But what about when working with clients in a virtual environment? When thinking about conducting therapy online, you may find that current capabilities go far beyond video conferencing alone. You can have access to many of the same tools that you have access to in the office, just in a different format. But what types of tools are we talking about?
Types of Tools
Just as computers changed the way you do ordinary things like typing documents via a typewriter or conducting video conferences via a camcorder, they have also provided us with electronic counterparts to many of the things we may find in our office and make use of during our therapy sessions. For example, you may find using a whiteboard during your in-office sessions with clients to be rather helpful. If so, and you are considering taking some or all of your sessions online, you will be pleased to find that you can utilize an interactive whiteboard in a virtual setting as well.
If you have not used a whiteboard in your practice before, it might be worth considering. Utilizing an interactive whiteboard can be useful in mental health therapy, for example, in that it allows therapists and clients to work together in mapping out thought processes, connecting feelings to the thoughts that precede them, and identifying patterns. A whiteboard can also be used for things like brainstorming and making lists of pros and cons when working on solving complex problems with clients.
Sign up for our free teletherapy academy
In addition to a whiteboard, another option that is available online just as it is in the office is the use of flashcards. Flashcards can be particularly useful for speech therapy. They can be helpful in working with clients on target sounds, building vocabulary, and more. In addition, other tools that are available online include scenes, games, and interactive apps, though they are not necessarily available on all platforms.
Start 30-day Free Trial and explore TheraPlatform. HIPAA Compliant Video and Practice Management Software for Therapists.
Availability
Whether you are a mental health therapist, social worker, behavioral therapist, or speech therapist, there is a variety of tools that you can utilize to enhance your therapy sessions, but not all of them will be available on every platform. And, since these teaching aids can be such useful tools when conducting therapy sessions online, it is important to include them in your decision process when considering which platform will work best for you and your clients.
Teletherapy does not need to be limited to video conferencing alone. Depending on the platform that you choose to use for online therapy, you may or may not have built-in tools at your disposal. However, if you choose a platform like TheraPlatform, you will have access to a variety of useful tools, including an interactive whiteboard, flashcards, scenes, games, and interactive apps. These tools can enhance your ability to serve your clients, so it is definitely worth keeping them in mind when considering what platform will work best for you.
