So you’re ready to begin therapy but the whole planet is closed. Mental health care doesn't stop because the offices are temporarily off-limits, it just moves to a different setting: telehealth. Telemedicine, teletherapy, tele-workouts, e-learning, tele-all the things and tele-everything are now omnipresent due to the pandemic. What does that mean for your counseling sessions? It means you still receive the help and support you need and seek, just through a screen instead of in-person. Have you ever used FaceTime or Skype to keep in contact with friends or family? Well, teletherapy is a similar experience, except you can reach a licensed therapist to help guide you through your journey. You may have some questions about the process, and I am here to answer some common ones.
“Why should I do therapy online?” Teletherapy may be new to a lot of folks, but it has been around for quite some time. Even today, seeking out therapy is still something many people find difficult for several reasons. Many people still feel the stigma of seeking help for mental health support. Some people simply do not have the time in their schedule to travel to a therapist, conduct a 50-minute session, then travel back to work on a weekly basis. Some folks don't have transportation or mobility to go to an office. Sometimes the physical distance, when engaged in online therapy, reduces anxiety about seeking help and seems more accessible. Most providers are not conducting in-office sessions right now, so telehealth offers a way to continue or begin to access the support for conditions and issues, including depression, anxiety, relationship problems, trauma, and chronic stress. We have the ability to connect with you via technology in ways that make the most sense for you at this time. As you may have read, our trends of anxiety and depression are rising due to the surrounding issues of our current pandemic as seen here https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/coronavirus-is-harming-the-mental-health-of-tens-of-millions-of-people-in-us-new-poll-finds/2020/04/02/565e6744-74ee-11ea-85cb-8670579b863d_story.html at the same time we are still in a national shortage of mental health supporters (see more https://www.goodtherapy.org/for-professionals/personal-development/become-a-therapist/is-there-shortage-of-mental-health-professionals-in-america). Telehealth is a fantastic option to provide care to more folks without in-office access.
“Fine, I’ll try it. How does this work?” Teletherapy works in much the same way as traditional therapy settings, except you are not in the same room. You choose your therapist who provides telehealth, schedule your session, grab your phone or computer and headphones, and wait for log on instructions from your provider. Some therapists have their own private platforms for sessions. You will receive instructions from your therapist if you need to download an app to use for your private and secure sessions. Some therapists use apps like Zoom, Doxyme, Simple Practice, Meets, or any variety of connection tools. You can discuss the best option for you with the provider, however, the therapist is ethically bound to provide a HIPPA compliant means of communication to protect your privacy.
“Hey, that reminds me, are these sessions private?” Teletherapy can offer more privacy than a traditional setting by limiting the number of people you see coming or going from the office. You won’t run into your neighbor in the office waiting room via telehealth! You have no need to tell your coworkers where you are going. Therapists are bound by federal law and professional ethics to protect your privacy. They will protect privacy through their choice of platform and by making sure they are in a private setting to conduct your session, without interruption or observation of any kind. You are responsible for securing your settings. The therapist can advise you about protecting your privacy in your home or office prior to your session. However, ultimately you are responsible for finding your private area for the session.
“I’m not comfortable with being on video, can we email or text our session?” Text and email-based therapy is an option for some folks. Not all providers offer text-based or email-based therapy. Many health insurance companies currently do not provide coverage for text or email therapy. Ask your provider if they offer text or email support and then discuss the associated fees for services.
“Is teletherapy as effective as office therapy?” Many studies and peer-reviewed research shows equal, if not greater, teletherapy effectiveness compared to in-office sessions. You can read more details here https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4219070/ and here https://henry-health.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Teletherapy-Efficacy.pdf Since mental health providers are licensed and certified by the state as Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), etc., teletherapy does not compromise the quality of the therapist. We are ethically bound to only practice in our realm of competency. Telehealth providers have to be licensed by the state from which they offer their services.
“Ah, but what about the kids? Can they do teletherapy?” Yes! Studies also support the efficacy of teletherapy for children and you can read more data here https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/November-2017/Telehealth-Transforming-Child-Mental-Health-Care and here https://www.wjgnet.com/2220-3206/full/v5/i3/286.htmAs a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) I provide teletherapy services to children. Some providers offer services to children as young as 3 via telehealth. It is true that I do not have my array of fabulous toys and play therapy tools and games available, but I have multiple cameras and can use alternatives to give access to the tools to the kids to achieve many of the same goals. Some therapists even mail kits to the kids to use during sessions. I find that when we use fun and engaging digital technology, teletherapy is exceptionally kid-friendly. Kids are digital natives who can often suggest tools and connections that foster the type of connection they need. Some sessions for younger children may focus on family connections and parenting support during teletherapy. It is always important that the parent or caregiver plays a role in supporting the child’s therapeutic process. Parent buy-in and child-therapist relationships are the foundations of successful therapy sessions for children, in-person, or online. Telehealth is also beneficial to children because there is a national shortage of childhood therapy providers. Telehealth offers additional provider access and flexibility when time or distance constraints exist.
“Once more question, what about the costs?” The short answer is “it depends”. Therapists determine their rates individually, so you will need to ask your provider. If your provider does not accept health insurance, they will bill you, either traditionally or electronically and you will pay them the session fee at the time of services. If the provider accepts insurance and your insurance plan covers telehealth, your provider will bill insurance and collect the co-pay or due amount at the time of service. Discuss online payment options with your provider. Currently, many health insurance companies cover telehealth costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please look into your personal policy to determine your coverage. Make sure that you are fully aware of payment responsibilities before you begin your sessions. Your provider should assist you with any questions.
Although the world of online therapy has been around a while, it is very new to some seeking therapy and even new to many therapists. I encourage you to dig around and look into the type of online counseling that fits your personality and needs. I believe the relationship between the client and the provider is crucial to the outcome and effectiveness of the therapy. If access can be gained through electronic means, a lack of office space should not be a barrier to accessing quality mental health care.
*Alexa Griffith, LMHC, LCAC, NCC, RPT is a licensed mental health therapist. Alexa enjoys providing individual counseling and family counseling. She also provides play therapy for children, as well as teen and adolescent counseling via telehealth or in office.
Alexa's practice serves the Indianapolis area, including Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Zionsville, and Westfield. Learn more at AlexaGTherapy.com
Comments