Internet Based Therapy

what is it? How does it work?

Internet based therapy is a convenient way to access the same therapy services you would receive in office. Internet based therapy is a great alternative to in person sessions. It is accessible, convenient, time-saving and effective. It can be used for an entire course of treatment or occasionally when it is not possible to meet in the office. Another great thing about internet based therapy is that clients can see our therapists no matter where they are in the state of Michigan. This gives you more freedom to find a therapist that is a good fit for you, without the limits of geography.

Our sessions are conducted through a website called Doxy. It is secure, HIPAA compliant, and easy-to-use. When you call for your first appointment, you will be given a web address for your first therapy session. You will use this same web address for all of your therapy sessions. For example, if you see Dr. Hunt-Carter, you will go to www.doxy.me/drhuntcarter. If you see Camden Baucke, you will go to www.doxy.me/GreatLakesCamden. If you see Amanda Taylor, you will go to www.doxy.me/AmandaTaylorLLP. A pop-up window will ask for your first name, and then you will be put into a virtual waiting area. At your appointment time, your therapist will let you into the session. That’s it! There are no passwords or complicated logins.

Tips for a great session

You will need a computer, tablet or phone with a front-facing camera and microphone. Test your hardware prior to the first session if you are not familiar with how to use it.

Try to arrive 5 minutes early for session. You never know when you may have difficulty with your microphone or another technical issue.

You do not need any special software other than a web-browser and access to a reliable internet connection.

Please find a comfortable, quiet and private space for your therapy session. Silence your phone and other devices during the session.

If you live in a busy household, finding a private space can be challenging. Most people do therapy from their bedrooms, offices and living rooms, but it is okay to be creative! When space is tight, clients sometimes sit outdoors or in parked cars.

Make your space comfortable. It is perfectly fine to have a warm mug of tea, a beloved pet, and comfortable clothes during your session. Please refrain from the use of alcohol and recreational drugs prior to and during therapy sessions.

You must be present in the state of Michigan during your therapy session.

Are internet based sessions private?

Your confidentiality and comfort are very important to us. Doxy is a HIPAA compliant telemedicine platform and we always access it through secure, password protected wifi networks. We conduct most online sessions from our offices in Dexter. We observe the same confidentiality procedures for internet visits that we use for in person sessions.

Most of the time, our therapists conduct sessions from their therapy offices in Dexter. At times, your therapist may conduct therapy from their home. If this occurs, they will be in a professionally-appointed, private space for the duration of the session. You may spot a cat or dog snoozing in the background, but this should be the only difference you see. Regardless of location, your therapist will be using a secure internet connection. They will also work in a closed room with no others present and use a sound machine to limit the possibility of voices traveling. Your confidentiality and comfort are extremely important to us. If you have questions about the security of your sessions, please ask. We’ll be happy to explain what we do to safeguard your information in more detail.