Your therapy sessions may be on tool to assist you in the structure of getting through your week. Therapy can give you the motivation to push through the hard times and the motivate you to do the work to improve your mental health. Up until recently, therapy sessions have typically been held in your therapist’s office.
When the COVID19 pandemic began, things changed. Everything changed.
You could no longer attend your therapy sessions in person. Fortunately, there was a solution that works: teletherapy.
What is Teletherapy?
Traditional counseling looks like this: you meet with your therapist for forty-five, or fifty minutes each week, or on a regular schedule that fits your mental health needs. In this therapy session, you discuss goals, issues going on in your relationships, the progress you have made, and any other topics relative to your mental health.
Teletherapy has only one significant difference from traditional counseling: you cannot do it in person. Instead, teletherapy takes place through and online format.
What Formats Are Appropriate for Teletherapy?
A professional therapist will choose a professional format in which to have your therapy sessions. It will meet specific standards such as superior audio-visual elements.
Examples may include TalkSpace, BetterHelp, TheraPlatform, WeCounsel, Vsee, Elumatherapy and Zoom.
Social media platforms are not appropriate. You have a professional, caring relationship that is temporary and established to improve your mental health. Any ties beyond that violate your boundaries and can harm you more than help you. So if possible Facetime should be avoided, no snap chatting, and no text sessions with your therapist, not even on a business page.
Benefits of Teletherapy
Many agree that teletherapy provides greater benefits than traditional therapy, especially for you, the client.
Teletherapy is much more accessible, allowing people to get help who may not have been able to before. The main requirement is access to a computer that can download the preferred teletherapy program.
This means people with disabilities, people with geographic issues, and those with odd schedules can receive therapy.
Another benefit is the increased comfort level you feel, making it more likely you will continue. With teletherapy, you can sit in your home, in your favorite spot, with your favorite blanket. Attending traditional therapy means going to an unknown space that is not personalized for you.
Traditional therapy settings may not always feel welcoming and, therefore, does not encourage you to participate in your treatment fully. Other potential problems that may occur on the way to your appointment may include:
The potential for your car to break down or getting into an accident, or just running late; the spread of germs, worry that people driving by will see you entering a counseling center, long wait times in a cold waiting room; and rescheduling problems.
Further, you have access to everything you need during your therapy session. If you need a drink, you can go to your kitchen and get it. If you need to use the bathroom, you can do so in your bathroom. If you need medication, it is at your disposal.
Who Pays for Teletherapy?
The simple answer, is you are responsible. However, many insurance programs pay for teletherapy, just like they pay for traditional counseling. During the Coronavirus pandemic, when you haven’t been allowed to attend counseling, insurance companies are adjusting and recognizing this problem. Many insurance companies are working to approve the coverage of teletherapeutic services quickly.
There may even be opportunities for group support through teletherapy. Or, if your therapist and your psychiatrist need to meet with you about how your medicines are affecting your mental health, they may be able to offer a conference call to eliminate the delay of time that occurs with traditional therapy.
Teletherapy can also be beneficial for family therapy sessions.
Make Your Teletherapy Session Successful
With teletherapy, you have access to resources to improve your sessions. You get to create the space in your home that will make you feel the most comfortable. You can choose to sit in a closet, on your bed, on your sofa, or even in the bathroom.
You get to establish the privacy of your surroundings.
Some tips for continued success include eating before or after your session, not while meeting. Do not participate in therapy when there are distractions around you. Choose a place where your family members, including pets, cannot interrupt.
Final Word of Advice
One final, but crucial, tip for those participating in teletherapy during a quarantine is to make sure you have the right therapist.
This means checking credentials, references, just as you would do with traditional therapy. Online it becomes easier for anyone to claim they are a trained mental health counselor, even when they are not.
Only licensed professionals who are trained to provide effective online therapy should be considered. This is for your protection and theirs.
It is okay to interview your therapist about their credentials. The right teletherapists will be happy to show you why they are the best choice. Together, you can make positive changes, even from a distance.