Is Online Therapy Right for Me?
Are you looking for the right therapist but can’t travel for appointments? Are health concerns causing you to be unable to meet with a therapist in person? Perhaps you’ve heard that online therapy is an option, but you don’t know if it would really work.
You may be concerned about how online therapy works. You might be wondering if it is really private and secure. Or possibly you are wondering if it is as effective as meeting in person. You may be hesitant because you are not sure you are up on all the latest technology.
Online Therapy Is Convenient
There are times when you can’t travel to see a therapist. Perhaps you don’t feel comfortable leaving your house. You may live far away from your therapist’s office location. Health concerns may make it unsafe to meet in person. Online therapy makes it possible to access the support and healing you need without having to leave your own home.
How Does Online Therapy Work?
Online therapy takes place via a website or app that allows for real-time, face-to-face video conversations. Psychotherapy works in part because your therapist ensures that you have a safe, private space to share deeply personal and sometimes difficult stories, thoughts or emotions. Any online therapy should be based on protecting your privacy. The site or app your therapist uses should, at a minimum, be HIPAA-compliant and have the ability to verify your identity and your therapist’s identity. In my practice, I use Telehealth by SimplePractice - a secure, HIPAA-compliant service. When you reach out to me to set up an appointment, I will send you all the information you need to set up your first video appointment with me. At a maximum, you will need to download the Telehealth app. After that, all you have to do is click on a link in an email I will send you.
You may still have some reservations about online therapy…
Is online therapy effective?
Although there can be some drawbacks to online therapy vs. in person sessions, there is research that indicates that online therapy can be very effective for certain mental health diagnoses, including depression and anxiety. Clients have expressed surprise to me about how helpful their online sessions have been. If at any point you feel your online sessions are not helpful or effective for you, let me know and we can discuss other options.
How do I know my session will be private?
I am committed to preserving your privacy during online sessions. I do all online sessions inside a closed room, and will verify that you are in a closed, private space as well. Depending on what device you use, you can be in a closed room at home, in an enclosed, private space at work, or even in your car. I use a HIPAA-compliant site to provide a completely private video stream.
Is online therapy covered by insurance?
Under normal circumstances, insurance coverage for online therapy varies from plan to plan. Currently, most insurance companies are covering online therapy at the same or similar level they normally cover in-person sessions. So, if your plan covers outpatient behavioral health visits, it will most likely cover video sessions.
Learn More About Online Therapy
You don’t have to be stuck at home with no options for help. If you have any questions about online therapy, contact me at 505-264-0698. I can help you decide if online therapy is a good option for you.