What is Telehealth Therapy?
Sometimes known as online therapy or e-therapy, telehealth therapy became much more popular during COVID for obvious reasons: traditional therapy offices shut down, social distancing took a toll on traditional face to face counseling, and isolation increased a variety of mental health issues. Now is a great time to start taking advantage of telehealth services as insurance companies are starting to offer more coverage options.
What is Telehealth Therapy?
Instead of face-to-face in-person sessions, Telehealth therapists offer psychotherapy or counseling services over a phone or computer. Sessions are run from your own from home or another private location.
Why Look for a Telehealth Therapist?
Like traditional in person therapy, telehealth therapy can help with:
Addiction - Online therapy can be a viable option for people who are dealing with substance and behavioral addictions.
Anger Management - Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often the treatment of choice for anger management and well suited to teletherapy. It works on triggers for anger and helps with developing and practicing coping skills.
Anxiety Disorders - Diagnostic testing many need to be done in person but if you've already been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder such as panic disorder, social anxiety disorder (SAD), a specific phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), teletherapy may help you manage your symptoms and give you strategies to cope.
Bipolar Disorder - People with bipolar disorder may experience high and low moods—known as mania and depression—which differ from the typical ups-and-downs that most people experience. Telehealth counseling may bring relief from these symptoms because of its accessibility when needed the most.
Eating Disorders - Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for adults and Family-Based Treatment (FBT) for adolescents both well-suited virtual treatments for eating disorders. CBT identifies and addresses negative thinking emphasizing the importance of the patient making behavioral changes and working on specific tasks between sessions to produce this change. FBT enlists the whole family to help change the behaviors of a person with an eating disorder.
Relationship Conflicts - Couples therapy can help with communication, sex and intimacy issues, financial disagreements, or even prevention of larger issues. Premarital counseling is also an option.
Teletherapy Pros
In person therapy is sometimes best in some circumstances, but telehealth sessions are often as good and if not better for a variety of reasons.
Accessibility - You may live in a small town where the nearest therapist is still far away or is not taking new patients.
Affordability - Telehealth may be less expensive than traditional in-person therapy.
Convenience - It may be hard to find the time or just cannot physically get to a therapist’s office.
Comfort - You may be more comfortable in your own home or somewhere else rather than in an office setting.
Flexibility - You need more flexible hours than therapy offices can provide.
Teletherapy Cons
Telehealth therapy can be a lot more convenient than traditional therapy, but it still may not be perfect.
You still need to take the time to find the right fit.
You’ll still have to open up about some potentially uncomfortable topics so you get what you put into it.
Therapists know how to design their offices to be comfortable. There may be soothing music or fountains or other effects to make your visit as comfortable as possible. With teletherapy, it will be up to you to find a peaceful space that is private and conducive to a good session.
Technology has its own issues. Devices fail, internet access can slow down, and a host of other issues may interrupt your session.
Getting Started
Are you feeling overwhelmed and stuck?
Are you held back by your past and feel as if you continue to repeat unhealthy patterns?
You are not alone.
If you are motivated to start your journey to wellness, you can be assured that you have safely arrived. Together, we will travel your unique path to a life of balance, abundance, and joy.
Please feel free to reach out to me at (203) 415-5162 or visit my website at www.journeyct.com.
References
Waller G, Pugh M, Mulkens S, et al. Cognitive‐behavioral therapy in the time of coronavirus: Clinician tips for working with eating disorders via telehealth when face‐to‐face meetings are not possible. Int J Eat Disord. 2020;53(7):1132-1141. doi:10.1002/eat.23289
Hedman, E., et al. (2014). Cognitive behavior therapy via the Internet: a systematic review of applications, clinical efficacy and cost–effectiveness. Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research, 12(6), pp. 745-764. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1586/erp.12.67