When I moved to Colorado 10 years ago, my husband and I were still dating at the time and he was living in California. We were doing the long distance relationship thing and wanted to stay more connected than what phone calls could offer. So we decided we would use Skype as another way to stay close. We planned it so every Monday evening we would connect via Skype. The first couple times it was a little awkward talking to him through a screen, but after that it was smooth sailing and became second nature. It was cool because I was able to see his facial expressions and it felt like I was right there with him. For me, it was what made the long distance relationship that much easier to endure. It really made a difference and felt like we didn’t skip a beat.
I share this story with you because with online counseling you are able to build and maintain a relationship with your therapist, it is possible.
We watch and follow people on YouTube pretty regularly. By watching their videos or live streams, it feels like we have been able to get to know them in a sense and they have built the “know, like, and trust” factor with us. People even have video meetings in the workplace all the time. In this digital age, we are able to build connections with people all across the world, so it’s no wonder people can access healthcare and therapy through this route as well.
Telehealth is increasing access to care
Think about it, with the ability to access care from anywhere you are as long as you have an internet connection. Doctors and other healthcare providers are using this service more and more. This allows the patient to share their symptoms with the doctor and get their needs met without having to leave your home, especially if you don’t feel well.
With the option of online counseling here are some of the benefits
No need to drive to and from an office
No need to worry about childcare
If you have a newborn, you don’t have to pack up all the things you need to get out the door or worry about the time it takes to get yourself with the baby out of the house (we all know that it takes lots of time and preparation to get out of the house with a newborn)
If you don’t have a car available during the day you don’t have to worry about transportation issues.
If the weather is bad or there is a sick child at home, you can still have your therapy session.
If you live in a rural area with limited access to services or the closest therapist is an hour + away you don’t have to be concerned with the all day planning and travel to make it to an office.
The conveniences that online therapy offers are plentiful. I also like that research shows us, clients make just as much progress in therapy as they do with face to face in person sessions. This, along with the ability to build a good working relationship with your therapist through televideo is a huge reason why this is a great option.
Ok, ok, what are the barriers, right?
There are a few instances when telehealth is not the best option for someone. A couple reasons are if a person is persistently mentally ill, i.e. suffering from schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, psychosis or if they have had multiple hospitalizations for risk to self or others.
Screening with your therapist during the first consultation or intake session will allow the therapist to determine if online therapy is a good fit or if a referral should be made.
As I shared above, the first couple times Skyping with my husband was a little awkward and different, but I think that is to be expected because it was new to us. Meeting a therapist or new professional in any setting can bring up a little nervousness in any situation and it’s completely normal and expected.
If you would like to learn more about the process. You can visit my web page that goes over a few more facts on telehealth: Telehealth FAQ
You can also call me at 970-795-2100 or email me alison@hartmantherapyco.com if you would like to talk further if this is a good option for you.
We can even schedule a 15 minute consultation by video for you to test the process. I would send you a link and when it is our scheduled time to meet, you click on link and the consultation begins. Hope to see you there!