By Annabelle Parr
During this incredibly stressful time of COVID-19, we are having to make major life adjustments. With the new shelter in place restrictions, you might wonder whether psychotherapy is still an option available to you. The short answer is yes!
Telehealth, also known as video conferencing or online therapy, has been available long before COVID-19, and is an important alternative to in person care.
Traditionally, therapy is done in person. However, with the emergence of new technologies, there have been an increasing number of telehealth / video conferencing options and platforms emerging and available in the mental health field over the last decade. This means that not only do we have the infrastructure available to offer confidential, HIPAA compliant virtual therapy, but also that there is already plenty of research on telehealth and its efficacy in mental health treatment.
Prior to coronavirus, teletherapy expanded access to care to individuals who were not able to get to a therapist’s office, whether that was due to scheduling difficulties or a lack of mental health care options in their community. Now, shelter in place poses a barrier to accessing in person care for all of us. Thus, telehealth via video conferencing offers convenient access to care for everyone as we are required to stay at home as much as possible.
How effective is telemental health care?
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, “from a large body of research we know that telemental health leads to high patient and provider satisfaction ratings and achieves health outcomes equivalent to in-person care across all diagnostic groups” (Yellowlees, 2020). So as long as the client is willing to engage in therapy virtually and is not an extreme risk to themselves or others, research shows that telemental health is as effective as in person treatment.
How does virtual therapy work?
Typically, telehealth involves video conferencing with your therapist using a secure, HIPAA compliant platform. No extra equipment or complicated applications are required. Clients can use their smartphones or a laptop computer with a built-in camera. Therapists are able to offer telehealth services to patients located in the state in which they are licensed. So a therapist licensed in and practicing in California is able to offer teletherapy services to patients located in the state of California. Though not all therapists were offering telehealth options prior to COVID-19, given the current situation, many have adjusted their practices to offer video counseling options to patients in need.
What should you look for in a telehealth provider?
The same things you would look for in a therapist you would see in person: you want to ensure that the therapist you choose has expertise in the areas in which you are seeking treatment for, and you want to make sure the therapist feels like a good fit for you personally. One thing we know for sure is that the quality of the therapist-client relationship is the most important factor in producing successful treatment outcomes across settings, in-person or online. This means that in order for therapy to be effective, you have to have a solid trusting rapport with your therapist. Assuming those two conditions are present, telehealth is likely to be just as effective as working with the same therapist in person.
