Tips for setting up your office for Teletherapy

Setting up your home office can be really fun or a bit stressful. You may be working out of a corner in a multi-purpose room or lucky enough to have a private office. Either way, here are some tips to keep it simple.

• It’s all about the camera angle! Position your desk so that a wall, curtain or room divider is behind you. This ensures that there are no accidental “passer-bys'' in your video or busy distractions for the students. And by all means no beds, messy kitchens, or laundry in view. I promise, your intention will be to have a clean space every morning, but days get busy and things happen … so plan ahead and make sure your log -in looks professional every time!

• Find a comfortable chair. You will be sitting for a majority of your session time so make it cozy and supported for your back. I hope you move around some as the kids love a good stretch, gross motor movement, or wiggle time, but you will still spend a fair amount of time…in a chair.

• Design a sign, signal, or symbol to indicate to your family and housemates that you are “In Session.” It is hard for others to see you at home and not run in and say hello! Some sort of sign will help them to know if you are with a student or doing paperwork. Some ideas are: a Do Not Disturb door tag, In Session sign, or a white board with your schedule posted on the door or in the area of your “office.”

• Have fun and make the space yours! A few fresh flowers, a small candle, a cute notebook, colorful pens, …or not…. Can make it feel more like a special work space.

• Enjoy!