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What is Telehealth?

Through audio and video over the internet, you can meet with your telehealth therapist on-the-go from your desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Telehealth allows you to connect with your therapist through secure and convenient appointments.

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WHAT IS TELETHERAPY OR TELEHEALTH?

Yes. Telehealth at Heather Stackus Counseling and Consulting is provided through Simple Practice, a secure, HIPPA-compliant system. All data is secured with bank-level encryption.

WILL OUR TELEHEALTH APPOINTMENT BE SECURE?

To participate in Telehealth appointments from your home, you will need one of the following devices: 

  • Desktop computer with a webcam, speakers, a 2.5 GHz processor, and 4 GB of RAM OR 

  • Laptop computer with built-in webcam and speakers, a 2.5 GHz processor, and 4 GB of RAM OR 

  • Tablet device with built-in webcam and speakers, OR 

  • Smartphone with at least iOS 10 or Android 7.0(Note: To use a smartphone, you must first download Telehealth by SimplePractice - available for iOS or Android in the app store.)

  • You will need an Internet connection that is at least 10mbps. For optimal results, a reliable, high-speed internet connection with a bandwidth of at least 10 mbps will minimize connection issues and provide the best quality.

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?

If you live in an area with slow internet, this can really affect the speed of your connection. Here are some basic steps that can improve the overall quality:

  • Use wired Ethernet instead of wifi whenever possible. Wifi will work, but you may experience a lag and interference, which can make your video and audio choppy. If you experience a lag or interference while using Wifi, we recommend moving closer to your router. However, wired internet will give you a much smoother, more consistent experience.

  • Test your internet connection speed. Google provides an easy way to test your internet connection directly from the google homepage. Simply search: internet speed test. Click the blue button that says Run Speed Test. If it is under 10mbps and you’re using wifi, try using a wired internet connection or restarting your router.

  • Close other programs. If you have several programs running in the background, closing them will almost certainly improve the quality.  Also, make sure you’re not downloading any large files.

If you are unable to connect to your telehealth appointment, please contact your telehealth therapist directly via phone or email, as soon as possible to see if they can help you troubleshoot.

HOW CAN I IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF MY CONNECTION?

  • We recommend joining the video telehealth appointment a few minutes early to test your settings.

  • If you can connect to the Internet, but are having trouble joining the video, you can use the recommended Pre-call Tool. 

  • To use a smartphone to join a video chat, you must first download the Telehealth by SimplePractice app available in the app store for iOS or Android.

  • If you need to cancel or have questions about the telehealth appointment, please contact your telehealth therapist directly via phone or email.

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