Welcome to Spot to Talk, we are so glad you are here! In short, we are a small group practice of licensed therapists providing telehealth services to individuals ages 6-30 and their families, we also have an office for in-person sessions in Bigfork, MT.
Telehealth is a way to connect with a therapist using a secure video platform from anywhere you can access the internet – this could be from the comfort of your own home, school, or even while you are traveling (once it’s safe to do so again, of course). We have a secure client portal that you can log onto from any device that has a video camera where you connect with your therapist. And yes, we can bill insurance in most cases!
So, if we have an office, why offer primarily telehealth? Many clients prefer telehealth, as mentioned above, your session can be accessed from virtually anywhere as long as you have access to the internet and a device with a camera. This allows for reduced travel time to and from appointments, transportation barriers are removed, and amidst the pandemic, telehealth provides access to therapeutic services while maintaining social distancing and reducing COVID-19 exposure.
Is telehealth the same as meeting with a therapist in-person?
Of course, meeting with someone virtually inherently has differences from in-person meetings, however there are ways we can make sessions just as effective. First is the environment. With access to telehealth, it can be tempting as a client to check-in with your therapist from many different environments (home, work, your car parked in your friend’s driveway). While all of these spaces are perfectly acceptable, it is strongly recommended that you as a client have a reliable, quiet, and safe space to engage in sessions from. With fewer distractions, we are better able to engage in productive interventions. Second, is the technology. It is very helpful if internet connection is strong and reliable – of course we will work with whatever technology we may have, though having a reliable connection can contribute positively to a more cohesive conversation. The final piece we will discuss today is engagement. This is something that can help with in-person sessions too, it just may feel a little different, and take some time getting used to, virtually.
In order for progress to be made and goals to be met in both in-person and telehealth sessions, we as a team need to engage with one-another. Engagement can look many different ways – asking and answering questions, letting your therapist know if you are not ready to answer a specific question, trying any “homework” your therapist might give you, participating in specific interventions while in session. One of our goals is to do the best we can to “meet you where you are at” which means you need to communicate to us how you are feeling and what is/is not working.
Any other reasons we provide telehealth services?
Yes, there are so many! One of the primary goals behind creating this platform was to foster the opportunity to not only serve our local community but also those near and far. We have therapists licensed in Montana, California, Michigan, North Carolina and Texas! Thanks to technology (and innovation, planning, and forethought from our founder) we have the ability to connect with and serve individuals via telehealth from all over the country. Even though our office is in Montana, it is a very rural state so having access to a provider who may be out of your area is a major benefit!
You may still have questions about telehealth in general or Spot to Talk specifically, and that’s great! We are here to help and would be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. Therapy can be intimidating at first though our hope is to create a welcoming and peaceful environment where you feel comfortable to sha
Megan Goudie, LCSW
Megan has a passion for providing holistic, trauma-informed care, and believes there is a different approach that works for every person.
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