With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe, we’ve had to learn pretty quickly how to adapt. One way life is different is that instead of in-person interactions, many of us are interacting with others virtually to do work or catch up. More and more folks are turning to telehealth to meet their needs during the time of social distancing.
What is telehealth?
Telehealth is just healthcare you access online. In the mental health world, telehealth is often referred to as telemental health, to distinguish it from other types of telehealth. Online therapy, or telehealth, has been around in different forms for a while (the Department of Veterans Affairs has been offering remote sessions for 20 years). Therapy that is offered via telehealth has been shown in research to be just as effective as therapy delivered in person.
Social distancing isn’t the only time where telehealth comes in handy, though. Telehealth is a tool that can be used in a number of situations to help improve access to therapy.
What are the benefits of telehealth?
It makes therapy convenient
Telehealth makes therapy more accessible than ever. There are times when making the trip to a therapy office isn’t realistic - like during a blizzard or hurricane, in the middle of a global pandemic, or when you don’t have reliable transportation. Telehealth fills the gap so that you don’t miss out on therapy by not being able to make it to the office in person.
Many insurance plans now cover telemental health, especially in the wake of COVID-19, which makes it more likely that people can use and benefit from telehealth. Insurance is only one aspect of accessibility though - some therapy offices may not be able to make accommodations to make their space accessible to folks with mobility issues. Some people don’t have access to regular or reliable transportation, which can make it difficult to get to appointments on time. Telehealth removes those barriers (for the most part - not everyone has internet access or a device to use) for many folks so they can take advantage of therapy.
It makes therapy more comfortable
Attending therapy via telehealth means you get to be in your own environment. Of course, there are some situations where this won’t be true (if you’re using telehealth while you’re traveling, you might not be in your own space), but for the most part, you get to be in your comfort zone. You can sit wherever you feel the most comfortable. You can have water or a hot beverage handy, or keep your pet on your lap. These things might sound small, but they can provide a sense of comfort while you get used to telehealth.
It helps with consistency
Since telehealth makes therapy more accessible, it also makes it easier to be consistent with your sessions. Since you don’t need to plan for travel time + you can access your session wherever you have an internet connection, it’s easier to make time for therapy every week (or however often you go).
It helps prioritize mental health
Telehealth can make it easier to prioritize your mental health. If you’re constantly struggling to find time in your schedule, it might be hard to fit a regular therapy appointment, especially when you consider the transportation time. Telehealth cuts out the transportation time, so it’s easier for folks to step away from what they’re doing, attend therapy, and then continue on with their day. Telehealth helps to minimize the interruption of therapy so you can still get the benefits of therapy while making it work for your schedule. Prioritizing your mental health is an important aspect of self-care, and telehealth can make that happen for many people who haven’t had the opportunity to tend to themselves in that way before.
It gives you options
Telehealth isn’t just for individual therapy, either. Many therapists offer virtual groups, child therapy, couples therapy, and more via telehealth, so whatever your needs are, you can find an option that works for you. Since you don’t need to travel to the therapist’s office, you have more providers to choose from. If you are looking to work with someone with a certain specialty, you may have an easier time finding someone who can meet with you virtually instead of waiting to find the perfect person in your town. Telehealth is an opportunity to bring family members together, even over physical distance, for counseling. For example, if a couple normally attends counseling together but one person is out of town, the couple can still meet for their session virtually.
Telehealth might seem strange at first, but it actually has a lot of benefits, like improving accessibility and adding a sense of convenience and comfort to your therapy session. If you’re interested in learning more about telehealth, get in touch with us today and we can answer your questions!