How to become an online psychologist? 5 practical tips

Several key ideas to take advantage of this medium in which to offer therapy at a distance.

The irruption of online therapy in the world of psychological assistance has made more and more professionals interested in knowing the potential of this tool to work.

This is not surprising, given the multiple advantages that online psychotherapy offers to those who know how to take advantage of the characteristics of this channel. However, getting to position oneself well in this type of services can be somewhat complicated, because although the service offered is fundamentally the same, the medium is totally different.

So... how to become an online psychologist? Let's see what are the main steps to be taken.

How to become an online psychologist

The road to becoming an online psychologist is not excessively long, but it has its complexities. It does not consist of simply advertising this service and improvising video calls with clients who ask for it, because in doing so we are wasting much of its potential, as we will see. Taking advantage of the options of this format is a process that, in part, requires a preparation and marketing plan on our part.

1. Learn the different online payment modes

Beyond bank transfers, online psychotherapy services are sometimes associated with other payment methods, such as Paypal.such as Paypal. It is important that you know how they work, since not doing so could cause you to lose opportunities.

2. Familiarize yourself with the technical aspects of videoconferencing

The video call (or videoconference) is the default mode in which online psychotherapy sessions are conducted. So, of course, you need to know how to take advantage of it, and which digital platforms to use to establish these calls..

3. Adapt your marketing plan to include online therapy

If all you do is indicate on your website that you provide online therapy, you will be missing out on a large part of the potential of this type of service.

What you should do is to position yourself as an online psychologist beyond your website.Since you can now have patients from practically anywhere, you must make yourself known in places where there are usually people predisposed to go to the psychologist through online psychotherapy services. Doing this is not easy, and in fact whether you do it well or poorly will greatly influence your chances of succeeding or failing.

4. Know the different types of services

To know how to use the Internet as a means to serve customers, it is necessary to take into account that people interested in your services do not always ask for the same type of hours and dedication. do not always have to ask for the same kind of hours and dedication, and adapt to this.and adapt yourself to this.

As a psychologist, for example, I offer two types of online psychology services: remote consultation, in which specific doubts are solved by email, and online psychotherapy itself, which is done via video call.

5. Be prepared to make things easier for the patient.

Do not forget that there are many people who are not perfectly fluent in the use of the Internet or computer programs in general.

That is why, as an online psychologist, you must do what is necessary so that this line of services you offer that this line of services that you offer is very accessible. and that it does not pose totally unnecessary obstacles, something that can happen if we do not pay attention and do not stop to think from the point of view of someone unfamiliar with our website. Small mistakes in the internal linking or in the design of your site can mean that you lose many opportunities to establish contact with new customers.

In the same way, you must know all the characteristics of online therapy to solve the doubts and reluctance of new patients, which implies, once again, putting yourself in their shoes and not assuming that they know everything you know.