Are you wondering if talking with a counselor individually or in group therapy via an online video platform is "the same as” face-to-face? Of course not. How could it be? There are some differences and some important similarities in the process. The really important questions are: Is it safe? and Is it effective? Short answers to both are: Yes and yes.
The first question is easy. During a pandemic, social distancing in the group room at our office would be nearly impossible. The same is true for individual therapy sessions online.
Telemental health therapy has been heavily researched over recent decades. It is not new, but came into widespread use after the COVID19 pandemic demanded safety caution. Now that the public health emergency is over, telehealth continues to serve a useful purpose for many. When it is not possible to attend in-person -- such as for reasons of distance, health,
Data supports it as an evidence-based, cost-effective form of treatment for relapse prevention for those with a history of substance use disorders, as well as for mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and more. Physicians with many medical specialties, including psychiatry, primary care, cardiology, rheumatology, pulmonology, and others use these identical telehealth platforms with great success. Psychotherapy too.
Online individual and group therapy are is available from the safety and comfort of your home. You need a good Internet connection, a computer or smartphone with a webcam, and private space where you can talk.
Throughout the COVID19 pandemic, the opioid epidemic continued to destroy and end countless lives. Information from before the pandemic showed 350 opioid related inpatient hospital admissions in Sullivan County, NY during 2019 (McGraw, 2019). As of last year, local opioid overdoses in people aged 18 to 24 had more than doubled since 2014.
Online Therapy eases access to treatment for those with an Internet connection, a working PC or smartphone with a webcam, and a private space to talk. Research supports that Telemental Health is different, but as safe and effective as face-to-face talk therapy (see Langarizadeh [2017], Whaibeh [2020], and Benavides-Vaello, et al. [2012]). Many find that they prefer seeing a therapist online rather than packing up their car, or calling a cab, to drive to an office visit.
Insurance and many EAPs are accepted. Call our office at 845-513-5002 if you have any questions.
Read 10 Ways to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal, PC Magazine, 1/8/2024. Read Telehealth Privacy and Security Tips for Patients by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Civil Rights |
References
- Sandra Benavides-Vaello, et al. (2012). Using Technology in the Delivery of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment in Rural Communities: A Review, The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research, 40, 111-120. URL: link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11414-012-9299-6 (abstract and bibliography).
- Mostafa Langarizadeh, et al. (2017). Telemental Health Care, an Effective Alternative to Conventional Mental Care: a Systematic Review, Acta Inform Med. 2017 Dec; 25(4): 240–246, URL: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5723163/
- Nancy McGraw (2019) Sullivan County Update: the Opioid Crisis: H.O.P.E. (Healthy Outcomes through Prevention & Education), 2019 Annual Conference, Sullivan County Department of Public Health, URL: sullivanny.us/sites/default/files/departments/PHS/2019%20Opioid%20Prev%20Conference%20McGraw.pdf
- Leo Sher (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates, QJM: An International Journal of Medicine (2020 June 30), URL: doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcaa202
- Emile Whaibeh (2020). Telemental Health in the Context of a Pandemic: the COVID-19 Experience, Current Treatment Options in Psychiatry. 2020 Apr 2 : 1–5, URL: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7114953/
Originally posted 7/12/2020. Revised 11/10/2024.