Wow! It's been a long, long time since I've blogged!

Time has certainly flown by since I started my own counseling practice and started this blog.  It's been several good, but busy years.  Today, I've added some practical information on how to set up  online video therapy sessions with me.  Though, I prefer to meet with people face to face, there are times when that just doesn't work out and a video session is the next best thing.  So if you are a client of mine and would like the option of video therapy sessions, follow the instructions on the previous post to get everything ready for those rare days when either you or I can't make it into the office for some reason.  Whether it be bad weather, car trouble, illness or out of town for some reason, we'll still be able to connect.   

Set Up Instructions for Online Video Therapy Sessions

Instructions for Clients to Set Up Online Video Therapy Sessions with Nancy Wilkerson

This service is a HIPAA compliant end to end secure video with no recording ability, so your sessions are never saved.

There are two ways for clients to join the video session.

1.     Via an email link that is sent to the client on the day that you schedule the appointment, they will also get a reminder the day of the appointment as well via email. If they do not get the email please ask them to check their spam file.

                                                       

2. The client can also download an app called 'MyTherapist" (all one word). If your client states that they can not find the app make sure they are typing all one word - MyTherapist (if they put a space between My and Therapist they will not be able to find the app).

If clients are joining via the emailed link from their PC, they will get a join button and a pin that they will use just for that specific date of service. This pin will only give them access to this specific appointment, each session will have its own unique pin.

Clients will need to have popups enabled in their browser settings. If they do not know how to enable popups in their browser, they can to do a google search for "how do I enable my popups with example Chrome, Firefox, IE, Safari". This will walk them through the process of enabling popups for the video session.

Once they get the popup window, the client will see an option to allow a plugin for their microphone and camera. Once that is completed, they should not have to do the process over each time to join a session unless they are using a new computer. The preferred browser is Chrome, but feel free to use any browser that is available.

There is no charge to download the MyTherapist app.  Just go to the App Store and download via either the IOS or Android platform.  Once a client has downloaded the app, they will need to enter in three key pieces of information.

1. Last name

2. Date of Birth

3. Pin (last 4 digits of their client ID)

The therapist provides the PIN# for the client.  The PIN# stays the same for each video session.

If a client has difficulty hearing or seeing the video, have them complete the following steps on their device:

Settings >Privacy > Microphone > MyTherapist and enabling the microphone. This might have to be done for some people with the Camera as well.  Alternatively, they can go to MyTherapist under their applications and enable them.

Once the client has successfully logged in they will accept the appointment.

On the day of the video session, the client will open the appointment and they will see a video camera button. They will then click that button and be taken to the online room to join the session. 

The client will be able to view other options as well inside the app.

1. See all appointments that are scheduled for them, even individual sessions.

2. They will be able to communicate  securely through the app.

3. Clients will be able to pay for the sessions through the app with TSecure pay.

4. Clients can see their past appointments and past payments as well.

5. They have access to directions and phone number to your office.

6. The Client will also have access to Documents that have been uploaded to the registration page and enabled for viewing by the client.

The Hoardes Are Coming

I came across one of my new favorite verses the other day when I was listening to my Bible.is app on my phone. I was making my way through 2 Chronicles 20 when I heard "For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you". The answer that followed was "Do not be afraid of this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's."   We do have modern day hordes of stress and trouble that come against us. And truth be told, we really don't know what to do much of the time. The good news is that we really don't have to. Our best strategy is always to look to God first and let Him do the fighting. 

To get the full feel of what's going on in this passage, grab a Bible and read 2 Chronicles 20 for yourself.  Then check out this personalized break down of 2 Chronicles 20 with practical applications as I see it.  

 

Lessons from 2 Chronicles 20—English Standard Version

Verses 1-2:  A great multitude is coming against you.

Verses 3-4:  You are afraid, so look to God.  Get all your people to look to God with you. 

Verses 5-8:  Remember and confess who God is and what battles God has already won for you—“You (God) rule over all the kingdoms of the nations.  In your hand (God’s hand) are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you (God)”.

Verse 9:  What if with a plan and statement of faith—“If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save”. 

Verses 10-11:  Enemies will come…sometimes even after you’ve already given them mercy and grace. 

Verse 12:”For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us.  We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”  Our dilemma:  Realization of the threat and our powerlessness over it. Our action plan:  Turn our eyes to God and keep them there.  Leave the judging and punishing up to God while confessing your utter dependence on God

Verse 13-14:  Gather together, stand before the Lord and wait upon Him.  Listen to your prophet.

Verse 15:  “Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid of this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s’.

Verses 16-17:  Go to the battle…face your enemies…but don’t fight the battle…”You will not need to fight this battle.  Stand firm, hold your position and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf…Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed.  Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

Verses 18-19:  Praise and worship before the battle.

Verse 20:  Get up early; don’t drag your feet, head out for battle believing correct beliefs…” And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness… Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed”.

Verse 21:  The worship team dressed in holy attire lined up and marched toward the battle in front of the warriors leading them in worship…”Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

Verse 22-24:  March forward in faith and praise; and the Lord will fight and win the battle in the most surprising ways…often times making your enemies destroy each other while you stand by and watch.

Verse 25:  Gather the “spoil”…Riches are often found after the battle.  Pick them up and take them home.  The Lord often times provides blessings to his people when they allow him to execute the judgment and fight the battles.

Verses 26-28:  More singing and rejoicing and praising the Lord…not just once; do it again and again.

Verse 29:   We point to God’s victories not our own.  God will be feared and respected and we will be protected.

Verse 30:  God will provide rest and peace after the battle.

Verses 31-32:  Walk in the ways of the Lord.  Do not turn away.  Do what is right in the sight of the Lord.  

Verse 33:  Not everybody will accompany you as you continue to walk in the ways of the Lord.  Some will desert even after the battle has been won.

Verse 34:  Record your acts…keep your chronicles…Journal your life so that you can remember.

Verse 35-37:  Watch out for your alliances.  Don’t join with those who act wickedly even if it seems to be a good thing you are doing.  Don’t set off to build your own “ships”.  Don’t go off planning your own route.  Don’t go off thinking to provide for yourself.  Don’t go off planning to carry yourself to your own destination or the Lord will destroy all that you do to demonstrate once again how puny our own efforts are and how mighty he is.  Let us not forget to fear and respect the Lord after he has won the battle for us. 

Questions for Personal Reflection

What are the hordes that are coming against you these days?

What have you tried to do to prevent them from overtaking you?   

How have you tried to battle them by yourself?

How successful have your solo efforts been?

Today I choose to look to God and rest in Him for He will fight the battle and the hordes will be defeated. Tomorrow I will choose to look to God again.

Great News!

Someone shared great news with me yesterday; so I thought I would share it with you.  She had been struggling.  The pain had been intense. She wasn't sure what to do; but somehow she turned in the right direction.  The great news came to her while she was flipping through her Bible...otherwise known as the living word of God.  She excitedly called me to share.  The good news she found was Psalm 34: 4-6.

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.  This poor man (woman) called, and the lord heard him (her); he saved him (her) out of all his (her) troubles." 

 Wow!  This really is great news and the timing of it couldn't have been better.  Amazingly she started to feel better.  The darkness started to subside.  The Light began to radiate.  No wonder they call the Bible "The Good News". 

Biblical Truths to Remember: 

• We can seek the Lord and when we do, He will answer.  Wow!
• When we seek the Lord, we will be delivered from our shame and fear.  Wow!!
• Being delivered from our shame and fear, we will be radiant.  Wow!!! 

The Lord's Prayer

God's Mercies are New Every Morning

The photo is from our 2011 Summer Vacation.  Here you see the sun rising over Lake Huron near St. Ignace, Michigan. This beautiful sunrise reminds me that God's mercies are new every morning.

This is the Ephesians 4:15 Counseling Services Business Logo created by my talented son William.  A million thanks, Mi Amor for all the time, talent and love you invested in creating this logo for me

So It Turns Out That We Needed A Lot Of Help

So if you happened to browse my website a couple days ago and then again today, you may have noticed some changes.  In fact, you likely noticed a lot of changes...everything has changed!  It's a completely new website.  As it turned out, we needed more help and problem solving than we originally thought.   We asked for a little bit of help and ended up getting a whole lot of it!  But I have to admit, it was kinda hard accepting it.  I had a hard time letting go of the website that William and I built even though I had cursed it many times while in the making of it.  I kept trying to do something I didn't know how to do; and I kept trying to make it do things that it I didn't know how to program it to do.  But still,  I didn't want to give up.  I didn't want to let go.  I didn't want to let go of the idea that we could do it ourselves.  I didn't want to let go of my son's determination to be my "tech man" and make this work for me.  I did not want all our efforts to be for naught.  Emotion warred with reason.   Feelings blurred facts.  But we talked it out.  We expressed our feelings.  We researched the facts.  We did the pros and cons... and in the end, we decided to move forward with a new plan and a new tech man.  Well, a new plan anyway...William will always be my tech man.  I say with no shame whatsoever, I will always need technological help.  And I will be ever thankful to William who so graciously drops all to come help when I call.

That all being said, I have a new best friend in the integrated website business.  Jaswant Pujari of Therasoft Online.  What a help he has been!  I actually may not have to pull out the rest of my hair in frustration now.  Since I can't be an all self sufficient expert on all things, it's good to come across a few experts that are willing to come a long side, go beyond the call of duty and just help out. 

So the first moral of the story is..Do not fear...Help will come.  The second moral of the story is that it really is OK to let go of something that isn't really working even when you've worked really hard on it.  If it's not working, it's not working. It's important to know when to let go and when to hang on.  In this case, it was time to let go and make room for something new.  New can be good.