Stillwell Journal

Going hybrid: adding in-person sessions to a telehealth practice.

By Diana, founder of Stillwell · Updated October 31, 2026

Many Brooklyn therapists moved fully online in 2020 and never went back. Now a lot of them are adding in-person days. On our waitlist, about a third of clinicians are telehealth-only today and want to see some clients face to face again.

Who benefits most from in-person sessions

• Couples and families, where reading the room matters.
• Clients who don't have a private space at home.
• Children and teens.
• Trauma work and somatic approaches.
• Creative arts and music therapy.

Start small: one half day a week

You don't need to rebuild your practice. Pick one half day, offer it to the clients who'll benefit most, and keep the rest on telehealth. Most clinicians we talk to plan 6 to 10 in-person hours a week.

Mix both in one block

With fast Wi-Fi and a soundproofed room, you can see an in-person client at 9, a telehealth client at 10 and another in-person client at 11, all from the same chair.

What to look for in a space

• Soundproofing: double walls and sealed doors, not just a white-noise machine.
• A guaranteed time: the same block every week so clients can rely on it.
• Easy access: close to the subway and close to where your clients live.
• A professional address: one you can list on insurance panels and your website.
• Colleagues: people to refer to and have lunch with. Going hybrid is a chance to end the isolation of solo telehealth.

Tell clients early

Give clients a month's notice, explain who in-person is best for, and keep telehealth as an option. Most appreciate the choice.