LIGHTS
Neewer RL-12 LED Ring Light 14" outer/12 on Center with Light Stand, Soft Tube, Filter, Carrying Bag for Makeup, YouTube, Camera/Phone Video Shooting
The ring light was a total game changer for me. Let me tell you about my set up BEFORE the ring light.
Things worked pretty well during the day. My desk sits in front of a bright window creating the perfect light for online therapy sessions (the camera and laptop monitor are facing me, not the window).
The evening was another story entirely. As the sun would set, so would my natural light. I was left with uneven overhead lights that put my face in mostly shadow, decreasing the nonverbal communication I could provide to my clients. I used lamps at all sorts of odd angles to put more light on my face and reduce the shadows but it didn't create an optimal workspace to have lamps from my living room laid on their side on my desk, sometimes balanced on books to get the right angle!
Then, I met the ring light. Rather than needing to have living room lamps angled on either side of my face, I could just put the ring lamp right behind my laptop, on my desk or on a stand behind my desk, and have a "ring of light" cast directly on my face.
The dimmer switch is essential! Do not buy one without a dimmer! You will go blind. Well, probably not, but you'd be uncomfortable and look weird. You can also get lights that have two colors of plastic covers to change the light tone from white to a softer tan/orange color.
Here's the one I have!
Or, if you'd prefer a larger model, you can also get it in 18''
AUDIO
Marsno Earbuds, in Ear Earphones Headphones with Microphone,in-Line Remote - Wired Earbuds, Pure Sound,High Definition,Noise Isolating,Super Heavy BASS (Gray Upgraded)
It’s helpful to have a basic earbud/mic set handy JUST IN CASE the audio isn’t up to par but you’ll very, very, very rarely need anything more than that. I’m talking BASIC ya’ll!
Apple AirPods with Charging Case
HOWEVER, if you have an issue with BACKGROUND NOISE like I do, we need to up your game. These are great for ambient noise like a television on in the next room. To be clear, there are not noise cancelling ANYTHINGS that will fix loud noises that aren’t ongoing. Example: my dogs barking.
I have tried All. The. Things. These are the best for ambient noise. For sharp sounds like dog barks, kid shrieks, or car horns your goal is really more about prevention than sound suppression. Sorry, folks! Sound machines are great at muting out traffic sounds that would otherwise cause my dogs to bark.
VIDEOS
The camera on most laptops is perfectly adequate to capture video for your sessions. You don’t need to upgrade unless you just aren’t happy with the clarity of your picture. Your laptop will also likely capture sound adequately.
On my MacBook Air, I use the built-in camera. It works just fine.
I have a second laptop on which the camera is strangely located on the bottom left of the screen. As you can imagine, this would make for a pretty awkward angle! On that camera, I use my favorite of webcams, the Logitech. More on Logitech cameras in a few. First, some tips about eye contact!
Eye contact is very, very, very important in therapy, including online therapy. You do NOT need to look into the camera to make eye contact with your client. Here’s what you do.
Don’t set the video of your client to full screen. Full-screen video view means that if you are actually looking into the eyes of your client on the screen, it won’t look like it to your client. Instead, take your computer out of full-screen view, move the picture/video to the upper middle of the screen so that your client’s eyes are in the top third of your computer monitor.
Generally, if you look into their eyes while their eyes are set to the top third of your screen, you’ll be making and receiving perfect eye contact. Always work with your client to make sure you’ve got this just right. It makes an enormous difference. I ask my clients to do the same on their end.
Okay, so back to video cameras/web cameras. If you are ONLY going to use your video for therapy, and not for making very fancy commercial grade videos, you will be perfectly FINE using a webcam instead of a fancy pants, expensive camera. I promise. You can even use your smartphone or your iPad.
Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920, Widescreen Video Calling and Recording, 1080p Camera, Desktop or Laptop Webcam
The webcam that I use is the Logitech 920. The video quality is fantastic. This camera has both mic and speakers built in, which I love. I have very rarely needed to use a headset to improve the quality of sound to or from my clients. It’s also a great price point. If I were to purchase another webcam, I’d look for something that wasn’t widescreen. I prefer the smaller picture my laptop provides than the wider shot this camera provides. If you prefer your clients to see more of your office, the widescreen is right for you.
Or, if you want a tighter shot, consider this one.
Logitech webcams are “plug and play”. In other words, they are super easy setup. Typically, your web conferencing program will automatically recognize that you have this external camera plugged in and will select it for you. If it’s not automatically doing so, just go to “set up” in the software you are using (likely Zoom, VSee, or Doxy.me), select “Video”, and you’ll see a drop-down list of video options. Select the Logitech camera. Done!
If you have a webcam that you just love, love, love, please be sure to tell me about it!
Canon Digital SLR Camera Body [EOS 80D] and EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 Image Stabilization USM Lens with 24.2 Megapixel (APS-C) CMOS Sensor and Dual Pixel CMOS AF - Black
FANCY PANTS:
Okay. So, you aren’t satisfied with a webcam? You want to make amazing youtube videos with that butterlicious blurry background and that amazing hyperfocus up close? If you are going to get THAT LEVEL of serious, here is my very favorite camera for the job. I don’t even have it myself because I was just too cheap:)
Oh Geez. Just even posting this here is making my mouth water. This camera is EVERYTHING. Check out the best vloggers on youtube. Know what camera they are using? THIS FREAKING ONE. Let’s just look at it for fun, shall we??
Depending on your specific needs (e.g. distance from the camera), you will also need to choose lenses.
I’m not serious enough about vlogging to spend this kind of money but if I had lots and lots and lots of loose change lying around, this would be my pick!
Here are two options for lenses, check them out!
Computers
Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 128GB Storage) - Space Gray
Quad-core 8th-Generation Intel Core i5 Processor
Brilliant Retina Display with True Tone technology
Touch Bar and Touch ID
Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645
Ultrafast SSD
Two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
Up to 10 hours of battery life
802.11AC Wi-Fi
Latest Apple-designed keyboard
Force touch trackpad
Apple iPad Pro (12.9-inch, Wi-Fi + Cellular, 64GB) - Space Gray (3rd Generation)
2.9-inch edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display with ProMotion, True Tone, and wide color
A12X Bionic chip with Neural Engine
Face ID for secure authentication and Apple Pay
12MP back camera, 7MP TrueDepth front camera
Four speaker audio with wider stereo sound
802.11ac Wi-Fi
Up to 10 hours of battery life
USB-C connector for charging and accessories
iOS 12 with Group FaceTime, shared augmented reality experiences, Screen Time, and more
Backgrounds
One of the luxuries of an online therapy practice is the ability to work from home. But, many of us did not plan for a home office when we chose our abode. If you are left wondering how you can make your space inviting without breaking the bank or losing your guest bed, I’ve got some ideas for you.
You don’t need to have a designer decorated (read: expensive) office to provide quality services for a therapy client. You DO need to have a space that is clear of distractions and easy on your client’s eyes.
I bought a room divider from Amazon that I’m totally in love with. You can see that I use it in many of my self-help videos (Click HERE to see an example).
I really prefer the four-panel designs. They are more stable and the cover a wider area which means that if your camera grabs a wider shot, there’s not a little pile of your laundry peeking out the other side. The four panels take up no extra storage space compared to the three panels, so long as you get the folding kind. I prefer folding over the straight standing ones. They are more stable and they can be tucked away more easily.
Be careful when you are selecting yours on Amazon as some look like they are solid but actually are see through. Read the reviews to be sure. One of the reasons I like mine so much is that it allows light in through the white panels while not allowing the client to see through to my room. Here are some of my favorites:
ORE International 4-Panel Room Divider, Cherry
3 panels, 2-way hinges for easy folding
Black finish, lattice-style wood frame with non-transparent white shoji rice paper
Measures 71 inches high x 52 inches wide
Legacy Decor 3 Panel Japanese Oriental Style Room Screen Divider Black Color
Features 4 paper panels
Folds for easy storage
Frame is made of woof with wood veneer
Giantex 6 Panel Folding Room Divider Screen, 5.6 Ft Tall Wood Oriential Freestanding Partition Privicy Room Divider for Home, Office, Restaurant, Bedroom (White)
Higher Panels to Partition More Space: There are 6 panels of this room divider and each panel features a width of 16". The open size of the room divider is 96" × 0.8" × 67", among which the height 67" (5.5Ft) meets most people's requirements, and is enough to create or cut off a larger private space.
6 Panel (Original Teal Color) Wood Folding Screen Decorative Canvas Privacy Partition Room Divider - Vincent Van Gogh's Almond Blossoms
Features a new waterproof coating, making it extremely splash resistant
Reinforced wood frames on the edges of the canvas
Printed with high saturation ink to create a beautiful, long lasting image with stretched poly-cotton blend canvas
Folds flat for storage and transport
Great for dividing space, providing privacy, hiding unsightly areas, or defining a cozy space
COTTON CRAFT Kamal The Lotus Antique White 4 Panel Handcrafted Wood Room Divider Screen 72x80, Intricately Carved on Both Sides Making it Fully Reversible, Highly Versatile. Hides Clutter, adds dÃcor
Wondering what kind of equipment you need for your online practice? Here are some of my favorite things!
RoomDividersNow Muslin Freestanding Room Divider Kit - Small A, 8ft Tall x 7ft - 12ft 6in Wide (Black)
TOP QUALITY ROOM DIVIDER SOLUTIONS – Attractive, inexpensive, & great for privacy
EASY TO SETUP – Kits come with everything needed to create and separate space in minutes (no tools or drilling required)
FIX A PROBLEM SPACE – City loft, apartment, shared bedroom, storage space, dorm, workspace, etc.
CREATE PRIVACY IN MINUTES – Small kits divide and conquer space from 7ft to 12ft 6in wide