Browsing Category "Teletherapy"

As technology becomes more ingrained in our everyday lives, it has changed how the population seeks healthcare. More specifically, it has opened up a new way to get treatment for mental health conditions—teletherapy. 

Teletherapy is the act of offering mental health services over the internet. Therapists and other mental health professionals use it to treat a variety of conditions, including substance abuse, anxiety, and family conflict.

Whether you’re looking to transition to a fully remote practice or offer teletherapy sessions as a secondary service, our in-depth guide can help. Below, we provide more details on how teletherapy works and what clients might benefit from it.

What Is Teletherapy?

There are a variety of terms used to describe teletherapy—online therapy, remote therapy, online counseling, e-therapy, e-counseling, telecounseling. All of these terms refer to the practice of diagnosing and treating mental health conditions through an online platform. 

The primary use case for teletherapy is hosting talk therapy sessions over video calls, where you can work with clients to identify and change troubling feelings, thoughts, and actions. However, teletherapy also refers to any online communication you have with your clients outside of these sessions. For example, if you email a list of resources following an appointment or send a text reminder about an upcoming session, that’s still considered teletherapy.

With that in mind, here are some common formats teletherapy can take:

• Video conferencing
• Phone calls
• Emails
• Text messaging

Teletherapy vs. Telehealth

Telehealth is the use of technology for assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of any health condition. Teletherapy is specific to mental health treatment. In other words, teletherapy is a type of telehealth.

What Mental Health Conditions Can Teletherapy Treat?

Mental health providers can use teletherapy to treat a variety of conditions, including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Bipolar disorder
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Substance abuse
• Grief and loss
• Couple and family dynamics

That being said, online therapy isn’t suited for all conditions. Those that require close monitoring, such as schizophrenia, benefit more from in-person therapy because it’s easier to pick up on non-verbal cues.

Benefits of Teletherapy

Telehealth makes therapy more convenient and accessible for clients, leading to higher client satisfaction and increased client acquisition. Here are some other teletherapy benefits for therapists and clients:

• Comfort: Clients may feel more relaxed discussing their condition from the privacy of their own home. When a client feels comfortable, they’re more open, which leads to more productive conversations.
• Access: Clients may not be able to make in-person sessions work for whatever reason—physical disability, no means of transportation, no childcare, located in a remote area. By offering virtual appointments, you can treat clients who would otherwise be unable to take advantage of your services.
• Convenience: Even if clients can come into your practice, they may prefer virtual sessions anyway. A virtual appointment takes up less of their time because they don’t have to worry about the commute, and it allows them to schedule the session around their work hours or other obligations.
• Group coordination: For couples or family counseling sessions, you have to coordinate multiple schedules. This is a lot easier if everyone can simply find a quiet, private place to hop on a call as opposed to driving across town to meet in person.
• Affordability: Virtual therapy sessions are more affordable for both you and your clients. Your clients don’t have to worry about the expense of getting to and from your practice, and you don’t have to pay for the office space that in-person sessions require.

Limitations of Teletherapy

Telehealth isn’t a replacement for all in-person therapy. It has drawbacks that limit its effectiveness in certain situations, including:

• Engagement: Therapy requires active participation from all parties. It’s harder to be engaged and present when you’re not face to face. This isn’t an insurmountable obstacle, but it does mean you have to work harder to stay focused.
• Environment: If a client doesn’t have a quiet room with a stable internet connection to take virtual calls, distractions or interruptions may prevent you from having effective conversations with them. Additionally, if a client can’t find a private setting, they may feel uncomfortable discussing important concerns with you for fear that others around them might hear. 
• Condition: As previously mentioned, there are certain conditions, such as schizophrenia, that benefit more from in-person monitoring. Additionally, if a client’s condition escalates to the point that they are in immediate danger (e.g., suicidal ideation), encourage them call 911 or go to the hospital instead of waiting around for you to answer their message or log onto a video call.

Does Insurance Cover Teletherapy?

Insurance coverage for teletherapy can vary widely based on the following factors:

• Insurance provider: Coverage is available through public programs (i.e., Medicare and Medicaid) and private insurers, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield.
• Insurance plan: Insurance providers, particularly private ones, typically offer several plans or policies that vary in terms of cost and coverage.
• State laws: Some states have what are called parity laws that require insurers to cover teletherapy to the same extent as in-person care or other types of telehealth. 
• Specific diagnosis/treatment: Coverage for certain mental health conditions or treatments can vary based on what provider or plan the client has.

As a therapist, it’s beneficial to know this information, as it affects the treatment plan you can offer a client—assuming they plan to stick to only what their insurance will cover. It also affects how you bill for your services. There are specific guidelines on how to handle billing, but generally speaking, you bill the client if they don’t have insurance and the insurer if they do.

Best Practices for Teletherapy

As the therapist, it is your job to create an environment that sets the stage for your clients to reach their therapy goals—whether you’re meeting in person or virtually. Below are our tips on how to create a productive environment for virtual counseling.

Use Secure Software

As a healthcare provider, you are required to follow HIPAA guidelines to protect your clients’ private information. This is why we recommend using telehealth software to talk to your clients. Telehealth software is encrypted to ensure that video calls and other forms of communication are secure and private. 

Choose a Private Location

Along the same lines, you want to have a private place to take telehealth calls with your clients so that you don’t accidentally disclose their personal information. This location should also be free from distractions that could inhibit your ability to effectively treat your clients. The same goes for your clients. Before you schedule your first virtual counseling session with them, verify that they have a private, quiet place for calls. 

Turn On Your Camera

Keep your camera on throughout the video call so that your client can see you listening. Use non-verbal cues, such as eye contact, nodding, and note-taking, to let them know you hear what they’re saying. You probably already use these cues for in-office sessions, but they are arguably more important with virtual clients who may need extra reassurance that you’re engaged—even through a computer screen.

Have a Backup Plan

When technology is involved, there is bound to be the occasional hiccup. If you or your client is having trouble getting video conferencing to work for your session, have a backup plan in place to call them over the phone so that you don’t miss the appointment. Make sure your client is aware of this backup plan ahead of time so that they aren’t caught off guard when you call them.

Final Thoughts

Teletherapy is on the rise, replacing in-person counseling in some situations to make treatment more accessible and convenient. Whether you’re looking to grow your practice or better serve your current client base, teletherapy is a useful service to consider offering.

If you’re ready to get started, TherapySites offers an affordable, comprehensive telehealth platform. Contact us today to learn more.