We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kaitlyn Moore a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kaitlyn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you ever experienced a times when your entire field felt like it was taking a U-Turn?

The world of psychotherapy often experiences changes as more research becomes available or new methods of treating clients are established. But I believe the biggest change that has impacted the therapy world recently is the use of telehealth to administer services.

Had you asked me 10 years ago if I thought telehealth would work for therapy…I’ll be honest, I would have said no. But now? I wholeheartedly believe telehealth therapy services are appropriate and effective for many (but not all) people. One of the most important things you learn as a therapist (or as someone who attends therapy) is that being a “good fit” with your therapist is important. It is often about the relationship and the ability to be open and genuine with your therapist. Over the past few decades, we have seen a huge shift in how people connect. Whether it be through dating sites, text conversations or video meetings, we realize that technology has given us a more accessible way to connect.

Now before I go any further, are there certain clients, situations, diagnoses, or therapists that this is not appropriate for? ABSOLUTELY. Telehealth has its place and there are limitations to it. But there are many people and situations in which telehealth has proven to be successful.

Telehealth has allowed therapists to be available to people who may not otherwise have connected to a therapist. I’ve witnessed this in many situations in my work. I have clients from rural areas where finding a good fit therapist is limited. Other clients have said to me that they wouldn’t have gone to therapy if it had to be in-person due to their hectic schedules. I also have many clients who fit therapy in during a break at work because without the commute, it still fits within their allotted time. While other clients have shared they feel so much more comfortable talking in the comfort of their own home.

It would be remiss not to acknowledge the positive impact being able to hold telehealth sessions has had for me as a therapist. During covid, telehealth allowed me to still hold sessions and to do so as a mom of three kids in virtual school. It allowed me to customize my schedule and work it around odd availabilities. And as a therapist in Michigan, there have been many days when snowy road conditions or inclement weather would have impacted client’s availability to attend in-person sessions. But with telehealth we were able to continue without any hesitation.

Prior to beginning therapy with a client, I provide a free consultation to determine if telehealth is appropriate and will be beneficial for that client. During that time, I let the client know that if at any point I do not feel this is the right avenue for them, we will revisit and find a better situation. This considers many factors. Some of those factors are logistical…does the client have stable Wi-Fi? Will the client have privacy? Does the client feel comfortable talking on screen? But it also includes whether treatment for the client’s needs can be addressed on this platform. If it can not, referrals are provided.

Telehealth has had a huge impact on psychotherapy. It has not necessarily changed what we do, but it has changed how we do it. It has made it more accessible, reduced time needed to attend and provided access to therapists who are not local or convenient to clients. I do not believe in-person sessions will ever cease to exist, nor should they, but the addition of telehealth has provided an opportunity to extend therapy services.

Kaitlyn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Kaitlyn Moore and I am psychotherapist in Michigan with a clinical social worker master’s degree. My experience as a social worker has varied from working in a maximum security hospital with adult mental health patients to working in schools with elementary aged children. One of the biggest benefits and what drew me to social work is the flexibility and numerous things you can do with this degree. However, when I first decided to pursue my degree and training I did so with the thought “I want to be a private practice therapist.” After many different, rewarding, and challenging jobs, that is exactly what I do.

I provide psychotherapy to adult clients. Most of the clients I work with are struggling with anxiety, ADHD or life transitions such as new jobs, moving, grief or relationship issues. Anxiety can be exhausting and take so much from us. Together clients and I address the uncomfortable feelings associated with stress and anxiety. We gain an understanding of how to approach those feelings and what to do to get through them.

My services are provided through telehealth which allows clients to schedule appointments easily in their busy schedules. Many clients prefer being able to schedule appointments during breaks from work or in the comfort of their own home. As a licensed social worker in Michigan, I can see clients from all over the state which provides access to those in more rural areas or areas without available therapists.

I make it a priority to make clients feel comfortable so they can be open and honest during sessions. It isn’t always easy to share worries, feelings and thoughts with others. I strive to provide a gentle approach yet challenge clients to look at hard things. And it is not uncommon for me to use some humor to help keep things in perspective.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Boundaries.

The term boundaries sometimes gets a bad reputation. But boundaries are essential for maintaining a business, being a good therapist, creating a work/life balance and experiencing joy.

As a therapist they are needed to provide good therapy, prevent unnecessary self-disclosure and maintain confidentiality.

As a business owner, keeping boundaries prevents burn out, helps with organization and allows you to create the balance between work and life that best fits your needs.

Lastly (and something that I often talk with clients about), boundaries allows us to love and honor ourselves as much as the people we care about. It helps value our well-being and needs just as we value others. When we set health boundaries, we find we are happier.

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

This is an intriguing question. I had originally started my college studies in a pre-med program but quickly found I was much more drawn to the psychology side of things. I do think this is a better fit for me but I have wondered what it would be like if I had continued on that path or had pursued something completely different. I’ve had sporadic ideas in the past but nothing strong enough to pursue further.

When I look around right now, I am doing a job I love in a way that best fits my and my family’s needs. I never get that “I don’t want to go to work” feeling. I may have wished I got here sooner but if I had to do it again, no, I wouldn’t choose a different path.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.therapywithmoore.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaitlynMooreLMSW/
• Linkedin: https://www.therapywithmoore.com/