Is Telehealth the Future of Therapy?

Telehealth has been the “new normal” for the past few months, but will it continue? In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, many therapists have had to quickly figure out how to use online sessions. This change has allowed therapists to be responsive to the social distancing safety protocols while also supporting their clients through the emotional turmoil of this challenging time.

While we are now looking towards slowly opening back up, many of us have changed our view of Teleheath. We can now see the benefits this treatment option offers for our clients and our practices. It’s really not so surprising that telehealth is a growing industry, currently a $6 billion, and expected to reach $20 billion by 2025.

Here are just some of the benefits of “virtual therapy”:

Privacy

Many people, especially those that live in smaller towns and cities, are hesitant to seek help from a therapist for fear their friends and neighbors will find out. With telehealth, you can receive help from the comfort and privacy of your own home. This can be particularly helpful for professionals who are highly visible in their community and teens and young adults who go to school/college with all of their friends and can feel ashamed of seeking professional help.

Telehealth is a Time Saver

One of the positive lessons in this difficult time, is many people are realizing how good it feels to slow down a little bit. Generally, many of us feel that we never have enough time in the day to accomplish all that we need to. Telehealth allows you to fit therapy into your day more easily, as it saves you from having to deal with the commute, traffic, and parking.

Flexibility

Often the people who need therapy the most are the ones that are overworked and have the least time to spare. Telehealth takes up less time and can often be offered at more flexible times. Is your only free time an hour while your child is in dance class? A video session from your car can make the most of your limited availability.

Clients Show Up on Time

When a session can begin with the simple mouse-click, timeliness is greatly improved. This means that you get your whole session and your therapist doesn’t need to waste any of it talking about the fact you were late.

Cost Savings

Online therapy means a therapist can run their practice without the need of a front desk staff or paying for office space each month. This extra revenue can help the therapist to offer more probono or reduced fee sessions to clients in need. Or work less and focus more on their self-care and work-life balance.

These are only a handful of the benefits telehealth offers to both providers and patients. While it might be a bit more time before clients and therapists fully embrace online therapy, the future looks bright.

I have been providing Telehealth sessions for the past year for clients in Colorado and Idaho. Contact me today if you would like to discuss how Telehealth might work for you.

SOURCES:

• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/modern-mentality/202004/telemental-health-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/millennial-media/201901/14-benefits-teletherapy-clients
• https://psychcentral.com/blog/its-probably-time-to-switch-to-telehealth-with-your-therapist/