12 Products That Will Instantly Upgrade Your Virtual Therapy Sessions

As I got ready to sign on to my first virtual therapy session I knew I wanted to have something comforting within arm’s reach to help me self-soothe. I chose to keep my softest blanket on my lap and it made me feel more at ease throughout the whole session. Years later, I still bring a blanket with me to every virtual session to up the cozy factor and add some much-needed plushness.

I am very much a “no outside shoes in the home” person but I also don’t like being barefoot or just in socks when I need to be present and engaged. So, having a collection of sturdy slippers I can wear during virtual meetings or therapy sessions is super important to me. These UGG slippers have a solid rubber bottom that helps me feel grounded and a shearling interior that provides plenty of warmth and comfort.

Scented candles are one of the easiest ways to inject a little spa-like zen into any space. There’s something about the flickering flame that feels undeniably calming and comforting, and there are so many scents on the market that it’s easy to find one suited to your tastes. This candle, which features notes of sea salt, lemon, violet, and driftwood, was designed to promote tranquility, making it a great choice to light up during a therapy session.

If you’re like me, full-sized weighted blankets can feel a bit too cumbersome to deal with during a therapy session. They’re just too heavy to easily move around or adjust while staying present. This weighted neck and shoulder pad has similar stress-relieving benefits but comes in a smaller package that’s much easier to maneuver. It’s also heated, which adds an additional layer of comfort that’s perfect for the colder months.

While more often than not I reach for an iced coffee when I need a little boost—or an energy drink if we’re really being honest—I prefer a warm cup of tea when I settle in for therapy. Tea feels inherently soothing to me and being able to pause for a sip while I gather my thoughts helps me stay centered and on track during therapy. I love that this variety pack has a lot of great caffeine-free options.

Need somewhere to collect your thoughts and track your progress? This limited-edition planner box was curated to make it easier to start and stick with a mental fitness routine. Inside the quilted dust bag you’ll find a 90-page discbound journal with three different planner inserts, mood stickers, page flags, gel pens, and much more. Plus, it’s customizable and sustainable, so you can add, remove, or rearrange pages to fit your needs.

Even though I look forward to my warm cup of tea during each therapy session, I frequently find myself talking SO much that I completely forget to take a sip until we’re halfway through. Self-heating mugs like this one from Ember keep my drink warm for hours, which means my drink stays the perfect temp through the full session and I can still reap the comforting benefits long after the session is over.

I may not be an artist or even someone who likes to doodle, but I am an avid notetaker. I constantly jot down my own thoughts or interesting quotes I overhear, so you’ll never find me without a notebook. But I’ve found that being able to put pen to paper is especially helpful when it comes to therapy. Not only does keeping notes during each session help me distill the insights my therapist shares with me, it helps me create a record of my sessions that I can revisit at any time. I recently picked up this journal specifically designed for people in therapy, and the prompts have been so helpful in getting me prepared for each coming session.

As someone who works from home, I’ve made it a rule to never call into therapy from my desk. I need to feel some separation from my day-to-day life in order to focus. And while my desk chair is comfy enough, I associate it way too much with work stress. Instead, I prefer a seat that feels a little more plush. I’ve called into therapy from my sofa, from my bed, and even the daybed on my balcony, but I find myself choosing this simple floor cushion more often than not. It provides much-needed softness without making me feel tethered to one spot for each session.

Anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I am firmly on team no overhead lights. In the two years that I’ve lived in my current apartment, I’ve turned on the ceiling fixtures maybe five to ten times. Instead, I rely on the ambient lighting provided by my collection of table and floor lamps. I’m particularly drawn to adjustable lamps that give off a warm glow—as opposed to harsh white light—like this stylish mushroom-inspired option. Soft lighting makes my space feel more inviting and less clinical, which makes my therapy sessions all the more cozy.

Nothing makes me feel instantly at ease like a good pair of sweatpants, especially wide-legged options like these from Aerie. Hard pants are just not what I need when digging into the depths of my emotions and joggers and leggings can feel too restrictive at times. Flowy, soft outfits are my preferred therapy uniform.

Living in a big apartment building means I have to deal with quite a bit of noise. There’s the puppy next door who doesn’t know how to control his barking yet, the construction across the street, the downstairs neighbor who recently took up guitar, and on and on. Investing in a good pair of headphones has truly been my saving grace. Once I pop on these over-the-ear headphones I feel centered and able to focus on my therapy session instead of hyperfixating on every little sound that I can’t control.