You’ve thought about therapy for a while. What’s stopping you might not be the therapy itself. It might be the logistics: the drive, the waiting room, the hour you don’t have. Online therapy removes most of that, and for a lot of women, it turns “someday” into “this week.”
Here’s an honest look at what telehealth therapy is, who it works well for, and how to tell if it’s a good fit for you.
What online therapy actually is
It’s the same talk therapy, just over secure video instead of in a waiting room. You meet with a licensed counselor from wherever you feel comfortable and private, usually your home. The work itself is the same: we set goals, talk through what’s happening, and build real skills over time. The only thing that changes is the room.
What to expect in a telehealth session
You’ll get a private link to a secure video platform. At your appointment time, you find a quiet spot, put in headphones if you like, and we talk, the same way we would face to face. Many women tell me they open up faster from their own space, with a cup of coffee and the door closed.
Between sessions, paperwork and scheduling happen through a secure client portal, so there’s very little to manage.
Is online therapy private?
Yes. The video platform and client portal I use are HIPAA-compliant, so your sessions and records are protected the same way they would be in an office. I meet with you from a private space on my end as well.
The part you control is your own space. A closed door, headphones, and a time of day when the house is quiet go a long way. If privacy at home is hard to come by, bring it up in our consultation and we will problem-solve it together before your first session.
What you need on your end
A laptop, tablet, or phone with a camera. A place where you can talk without being overheard. And reliable, high-speed internet.
I want to say a little more about that last one, because it matters more than people expect. Some women try to meet from their car or from a break room at work, and the connection there is often spotty. When the video freezes or the audio cuts out, it pulls both of us out of the conversation, and that is time you are paying for. Sessions end at their scheduled time whether or not the connection held, so please set yourself up somewhere with a strong, steady connection. Wired internet or a good Wi-Fi signal at home is usually best. If you are not sure your setup will work, we can test it during the consultation.
Who online therapy fits well
Telehealth tends to be a strong fit if you:
- Have a full schedule and can’t add a commute
- Value privacy and prefer meeting from home
- Live somewhere without many local specialists
- Feel more at ease talking from a familiar space
It may not be the right fit if you don’t have a private, reliable spot to talk, or if you’re in crisis and need in-person or emergency care. In those cases, we can talk through better options together.
Does online therapy really work?
For most of what women bring me, it works just as well as sitting in the same room. What matters most is the relationship between you and your therapist, and that translates through a screen more easily than people expect.
Research over the past decade has consistently found that video-based therapy produces results comparable to in-person care for anxiety, depression, stress, and relationship concerns. In my own practice, I have watched women make real, lasting changes without ever sitting in the same room as me. What makes the difference is what it has always been: showing up consistently, being honest, and working with someone who understands what you are carrying.
How online therapy works in my practice
A few practical details, so there are no surprises:
- Sessions are 60 minutes, by secure video.
- I see clients Tuesday through Thursday, between 8 AM and 3 PM Arizona time.
- We typically meet weekly for the first six to eight sessions. That consistency is where the early momentum comes from. After that, we decide together what pace makes sense.
- I am a private-pay practice. Sessions are $200, and I provide superbills you can submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement. HSA and FSA cards are welcome.
- I ask for 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule.
- I work with adult women who live in Arizona. If you are outside the state, I offer non-clinical coaching through Mary Jackson Online, which is a different kind of support than therapy.
A few things that help sessions go well
Log in a few minutes early so you are not rushing in from something else. Keep a notebook nearby if you like to jot things down. If you can, give yourself a few minutes afterward before jumping back into your day, because sessions can bring up more than you expect.
And please tell me what is working and what is not. Therapy is hard work, and part of my job is to challenge you and get you out of your comfort zone. It is okay to need time to process. It is also okay, and good practice, to say so.
How to get started
The first step is a free 10-minute consultation. We’ll talk about what’s bringing you to therapy and make sure we’re a good fit, with no pressure and no obligation. If it feels right, we schedule your first session and go from there.
Work with Mary and let’s find out if this is your next step. Outside Arizona? Start here.
Not ready to book yet? A gentle place to start is The Tuesday Pivot, my free weekly newsletter for women on mental health and everyday life. Subscribe here.
