Telehealth
Therapy Brought Straight to Your Couch
With the societal shift toward social distancing, isolation, and quarantine, there has been a word tossed around when discussing access to necessary health services: telehealth. Telehealth is the distribution of health care services through the use of digital information and communication technologies. This includes computers, Ipads, and mobile devices- just about anything with a camera, microphone capability, and internet connection. Telehealth is meant to be utilized to support your health needs when in-person visits are not possible. Meaning, you can receive access to care through video sessions from the comfort of your own home.
What exactly does telehealth look like for psychotherapy sessions? Telehealth for therapy involves video sessions with a licensed therapist through a HIPAA-compliant technology service such as Simple Practice or VSee. These applications allow for protected information to remain protected and are free of charge for clients. Due to COVID-19, most insurance companies have expanded coverage for telehealth, allowing us to bill through your insurance for sessions that occur this way. As your therapist, we will maintain confidentiality the same way an in-person session occurs, through conducting sessions in the privacy of our offices or our homes.
I think we can all agree that the current uncertainty and chaos has left us feeling a bit out of sorts. With more time spent at home and less time spent with others, it can be a great time to productively start working on your mental health. With that being said, we understand that starting therapy in any form can feel like an unfamiliar and daunting process. It can be scary to start with a therapist through telehealth, as you are inviting a person into your life that you have not met yet. It can feel strange to begin a therapeutic relationship through your computer screen, but there are many positives to beginning therapy this way:
Being in the comfort of your own home can relieve some anxiety associated with this new endeavour as you are in a familiar and safe environment to begin working through sensitive topics.
Telehealth allows for flexibility - you can fit these sessions in during a WFH lunch break or during a time when going into our office would not have been feasible otherwise.
It can feel refreshing to speak to a therapist and build a new alliance during a time when social connections are hard to come by.
With the overall change to your schedule and daily structure, beginning telehealth therapy can be a great way to take intentional and productive steps towards improving your overall well-being.
While telehealth therapy benefits typically vary by individual insurance plan, most insurance companies have expanded their telehealth coverage in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If beginning telehealth therapy is something that interests you, or if you would like to verify whether your insurance plan covers telehealth therapy, contact us through our website, healthintandem.com, or access our Psychology Today Profiles to set up an intake session. We look forward to hearing from you!