03/26/2026
Send your expectations for a virtual session in advance of your first appointment with someone new.
Explicitly state if, for example, you want no eating during session, or no pets in the room, or if you don’t want a patient driving during a session.
When we see people in person, we generally control the environment: where people wait, where they sit during session, the extent to which they can be interrupted. By contrast, telehealth patients control their own environment. And they’re generally thinking of their own convenience and comfort, not the clinical implications of their choices.
This puts us in a difficult position: we don’t want to seem bossy in our first session or two, but we know that to do our best work, we need certain tools—like privacy and a lack of distractions. Whatever you need, request it before your first meeting.
This tip is from Dr. Marty Klein. Learn more about Dr. Klein and view his courses.
https://www.zurinstitute.com/course-author/marty-klein/
