Telehealth Therapy: During the Pandemic and Beyond
When the pandemic hit the US in 2020, many mental health therapists left their offices to provide distance therapy over the internet. Known as Telehealth, this option has allowed therapists and clients to continue their therapeutic relationships with zero risk of Covid transmission.
As much of the rest of 2020, this was an unprecedented change for mental health. While Telehealth existed prior to the pandemic, most therapists had never utilized it. This is due to a variety of reasons, which include a preference for face-to-face sessions, lack of insurance coverage for online care, and apprehension from clients and clinicians alike.
However, as the world began adjusting to online services, there has been a clear shift in attitudes toward the delivery of therapy via video.
What are some benefits of using Telehealth for clients?
Social distancing. During the pandemic, the obvious benefit of Telehealth is safety via distance.
Access. Telehealth increases access to mental health care, which is vital as mental health concerns rise in response to the pandemic, adding strain to an already overwhelmed mental health system. In rural areas, there may be limited therapists available, if any at all. Also, for people without transportation, or who are physically disabled, Telehealth provides opportunities for mental health care that otherwise may not exist.
Flexibility. Using Telehealth is convenient. There are no commutes or traffic, allowing the “therapy hour” to only take up that scheduled hour. Some people don’t even need to leave work or don’t need to pay for childcare.
Effectiveness. Research shows that online therapy can be just as effective as in-person therapy.
In addition to the benefits for clients, there are also benefits to clinicians, such as reducing practice overhead and no shows; increasing opportunities to build rapport via meeting pets and family members and seeing a client’s space; as well as clinical implications to observing the client in their own home.
Disadvantages of Telehealth
Insurance. Prior to the pandemic, many insurance companies did not cover Telehealth for mental health. Currently, most companies are making exceptions, but there is no certainty regarding how long these exceptions will last.
State regulations. Each state and licensing board has their own rules for how online services work, which can be confusing for everyone involved. For example, does an in-person consultation need to happen prior to Telehealth? Can the clinician be located at home or do they have to be in a professional office? Does the client have to be a resident of the state where the clinician practices, and does the client have to be located in that state at the time of the service? Does the clinician have to be located in the state where they’re licensed?
Technology problems. As convenient as technology is, it also can fail, from internet outages, to power outages, to human error.
Limited view. An important part of therapy is the observation of the client. Some things may be missed over video, such as body language cues.
Telehealth also may not be for everyone. Some people experiencing significant mental health concerns, safety risks, or crises may be better suited for in-person care.
What is the future of Telehealth for mental health?
The pandemic has certainly changed the landscape of mental health treatment, and online services are now being embraced by numerous providers and clients. State regulations and insurance coverage may expand and change with the times, or they may continue to resist progress- it remains to be seen. Despite that, many clinicians appear to be willing to continue to offer Telehealth.
A word of warning: As the popularity of Telehealth increases, more online therapy platforms are popping up. Some of these platforms have notable ethical and legal problems, such as selling client information, violating license laws, using “influencers” for marketing, underpaying providers, not using properly licensed providers, and making false promises.
