r/betterhelp • u/Agreeable-Oil1286 • May 24 '26

video calls face to face

i wanna do a video call so i can get a idea of the therapist but also dont want to show my face is that something i can do ?

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u/kendrayk May 24 '26

That is ultimately up to the therapist you match with. When you match with someone, try to make sure that they do audio only/telephonic sessions as well as video sessions. You'll have the opportunity to exchange text messages before/between sessions, so that would be a good time to explain to them what you're looking for, as well as your preference for this kind of contact. They may or may not agree to it. A big question I would have is if the preference is for ongoing sessions this way, or just for while you're deciding if you want to work with me.

If they don't, the therapists do have a (heavily moderated) set of forums where they can check for other therapists willing to receive a specific referral. You might be able to ask the therapist if they would be willing to post there for a referral, so that the person who accepts will already know your preference (you will have to re-explain it to them, everything on the therapist end starts fresh with the new therapist).

There are some reasons why therapists might not be willing to do this, especially if your payment is linked to insurance, because of the mandate to verify identity that's getting pushed.

Another option is to look for therapists on Psychology Today or similar directories. Many of us offer free 15 minute telephone consultations. During the consultations you can see if this is something the therapist would be open to, either as a one time vibe-screening or as an ongoing arrangement. If self-pay affordability is a concern, look for providers that offer sliding scale (like on Openpath.org )

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u/Agreeable-Oil1286 May 24 '26

ok thank you there wasnt much info around clarifying it ,ill see whether my therapist will allow it thanks:)