FAQs

1.) It's my first time doing virtual therapy. What platform are we using? Will the office email me a link or invitation?

- I use Zoom, as my primary HIPAA-compliant platform, for all of my virtual sessions. Zoom (which is free!) can be downloaded onto your computer, laptop, tablet, & cellphone. Dr. Sumerlin will email an invitation a few minutes prior to your first session.

2.)  I am having technical difficulties prior to our session. Will we need to cancel today's session?

- No, we will not need to cancel our session. Either I can try and help you with Zoom, prior to our session, or we can move to phone sessions until the problem is resolved.

3.) How should I prepare my space for a Telehealth appointment?

- First, identify a suitable room that is quiet, private, and free of distractions. To keep background noise to a minimum, make sure to close any doors, shut windows, turn off the television, and keep loud pets in another room if possible. If necessary, use air pods or a headset as a way of minimizing noise and distractions.  Consider hanging a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door to avoid interruptions, if need be. 

4.) Will my telehealth session be private?

- Just like a face-to-face appointment, your telehealth session will be private and confidential; no sessions are ever recorded or stored.

5.) What can I do should I need to improve the quality of the connection?

- 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 Wi-Fi whenever possible. Wi-Fi 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 Wi-Fi, we recommend moving closer to your router. However, wired internet will give you a much smoother, more consistent experience.
• Test your internet connection speed. 
• 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.
• Turn off your video stream. When your video is turned on, there's more strain on your internet connection which may impact the audio quality during a Telehealth session. If your audio becomes choppy, your connection may not be strong enough to support a live video stream. Turning off your camera, may help to improve the audio quality of the call. 

*If you are unable to connect, please contact me as soon as possible to see if I can help you troubleshoot. *