NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION WHY IT MATTERS TO “SEE” YOUR CLIENTS

What emotions

could you be

missing out on?

According to dictionary.com, nonverbal is an adjective meaning “not

spoken: the nonverbal signals of body movement.” While counselors,

therapists, psychologists, and

psychiatrists have been meeting

with clients to provide services

on the phone for many years,

they have been missing a critical

part of communication.

Nonverbal communication does

not come through in a standard

telephone conversation. Before

the technology crazed world that

we live in today where video

capabilities are abundant and

more than 87% of the US

population has access to the

internet, a standard telephone

call was the primary form of remote connection. Times have changed

and now is the time to begin to embrace video in mental health.

Here’s the low down. Telemedicine isn’t necessarily new but technology

being an integrated part of our every day lives is.

www.thera-LINK.com | hello@thera-LINK.com | property of thera-LINK, LLC.

Nonverbal communication—our facial expressions, gestures, eye contact,

posture, and tone of voice—are often vital to understanding clients true

feelings or emotions. Many studies have shown nonverbal

communication to be as or more important as the words that are actually

spoken. There are studies by the American Psychological Association

that show telephone counseling can be effective, as well as research by

the VA (who’ve done telemedicine via video for many years!), that shows

the effectiveness of treatment using video technology to be equally as

much as an in-office visit.

Telemental health is a newer term in the industry which is ultimately the

use of real-time video technology to do an online session for mental

health. Many services, including thera-LINK, provide the technology

platform to safely and securely do an online session for therapy. There

are many things to consider when doing an online therapy session as it is

not appropriate for all types of clients. You should select the clients very

carefully and ensure they are in a non-suicidal state. Also, make sure you

have a signed informed consent specifically outlining some of the things

that “could” go wrong during an online session. thera-LINK provides a

sample document for our customers. Remember, seeing your client’s

face really does make a difference in providing the non-verbal

insight you need to provide effective therapy online!

Get the real picture. Video communication allows you to

actually see your clients in real time and interact just as

you would in an office visit.

www.thera-LINK.com | hello@thera-LINK.com | property of thera-LINK, LLC.