“Telemental health” (or “teletherapy,” “online therapy,” “virtual therapy,” etc.) is the delivery of mental healthcare services through the use of interactive audio and video technology. This allows real-time communication between the client at home (or another private location) and the provider, for the purposes of diagnosis, consultation, or therapeutic treatment.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, telemental health quickly rose to prominence as a safe and accessible alternative to traditional, in-person therapy. Lockdowns and social distancing measures necessitated the adoption of virtual platforms for mental health services, leading to a widespread acceptance and utilization of teletherapy. This shift not only allowed clients to continue their therapy sessions from the comfort of their own homes, but also opened doors for individuals who may have previously faced barriers to accessing mental health care due to geographic location, mobility issues, or scheduling conflicts.
Research has consistently demonstrated the efficacy of telemental health in delivering quality mental health care comparable to traditional, face-to-face therapy. Numerous studies have shown that virtual therapy is effective in treating a wide range of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and substance use disorders.
Additionally, meta-analyses have found no significant differences in treatment outcomes between telemental health and in-person therapy, indicating that virtual platforms can provide meaningful therapeutic interventions that align with the standards of care upheld in traditional psychotherapy settings. I gained experience providing both in-person and virtual care even before the pandemic, and the research matches my clinical experience: that the same transformation and healing can happen, regardless of the medium.
I use the secure Sessions by Psychology Today platform to engage in therapy remotely with clients. Sessions is HIPAA-compliant and does not add any additional cost — I simply send you a link to the online session via email.
Sessions is a very user-friendly platform, but to ensure your comfort navigating it, I’m happy to schedule extra time around the first telemental health session for us to test the technology.
Also, if you’ve never used teleconferencing for therapy sessions before, I recommend checking out this guide from Person Centered Tech. It covers the logistical and technical aspects of preparing for the first session, in a way that’s clear and concise.
I’m always open to questions, concerns, and conversations around how telemental health works and how it can help. Please feel free to get in touch if you’d like to talk further!
