What Was The Worst, Strangest, Or Most Inappropriate Thing An Online Therapist Has Done While Video Chatting With You?

Online therapy has been an absolute game changer. It allows more people than ever before the opportunity to achieve better mental health.

person with a thumbs up saying, therapy!
person with a thumbs up saying, therapy!

NBC / Via giphy.com

But just like in-person therapy, you could potentially end up with a not-so-right-for-you therapist. And a big part of improving one's mental health is finding a good mental health professional. Both video chatting and therapy have their own etiquette and their own red flags. But what about video chatting with a therapist? What's good protocol? And how would you spot bad protocol?

person on their laptop
person on their laptop

TLC / Via giphy.com

So I'm wondering, those of you who've tried online therapy, what were some immediate red flags that a teletherapist wasn't right for you, specifically referring to the whole "video chatting" of it all?

Maybe your therapist was doing something else besides just talking to you. Like, perhaps they were cooking dinner and then kept slurping to taste test their sauce. And you couldn't even properly communicate because both of you kept getting cut off by the sound of their pots and pans clanging.

person on their computer saying, i can't hear you
person on their computer saying, i can't hear you

Jenna Laurenzo / Via giphy.com

Or maybe, even though they were very well aware they have spotty internet when they leave their house, they insisted that they have the session on their deck, so you spent the whole hour asking each other to repeat yourselves.

person annoyed backing away from their laptop
person annoyed backing away from their laptop

Bunim/Murray Productions / Via tenor.com

Maybe, even worse, you were on the verge of a breakthrough when all of a sudden you hear your therapist's pee hitting their toilet. And when you asked your therapist about it, they said they didn't want to "interrupt" you.

person shocked in from of their computer
person shocked in from of their computer

NBC / Via giphy.com

Whatever it was, I want to hear about it. In the comments below, tell me about a time when your online therapist did something they definitely should not have done while video chatting with you. If you want to remain anonymous, you can submit your story using this Google Form.

Your experience may be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community post!