The New Era of Virtual Therapy is Here

Interested in therapy but don’t want to or can’t come into the office for a face to face session? Did you know we offer virtual therapy sessions called Telehealth? The World Health Organization (WHO) defines Telehealth as “health care services that use telecommunications and virtual technology to deliver health care outside of traditional health-care facilities” (World Health Organization, 2020). If you’re wondering whether Telehealth is right for you, here are some benefits.

• It’s Flexible. If you have any issues finding time to actually come into the office, Telehealth might be for you! Maybe you only have 45 minutes to an hour to spare and you don’t want to spend any of that time driving to and from the office. Telehealth is extremely flexible and allows you to speak with your therapist anywhere.
• It’s Convenient. If you work from home, are a stay-at-home parent, don’t have reliable transportation or getting to the office is a hassle, Telehealth is a really convenient way to work with your therapist without having to leave the comfort of your home or even get out of your pajamas!
• It Is Just Like Traditional Therapy, but Different: If you haven’t experienced Telehealth yet, you can expect to have an experience very similar to traditional therapy, but you end up sitting in the safety of your own home.  Typically, you will receive a secure link from your therapist which will allow you to connect to the therapist at the time of service.

To help you know what to expect, here are some frequently asked questions to know about Telehealth in our office.

• What platform do you use?  At our office, we use Simple Practice.  It is a HIPAA compliant practice management software that provides a secure platform for Telehealth.  Once your appointment is scheduled, we will send you a link. You can use this link from your web browser or download a free app for your phone.  
• What should I do if I didn’t get the reminder with the link? Contact your therapist if you did not get the link. The therapist can send a new link to you via email or secure messaging within minutes.
• How should I prepare my space for a Telehealth appointment? Identify a suitable room that is quiet, private, and free of distractions.  To keep background noise to a minimum, make sure to close any doors, shut windows, and turn off the television. Consider hanging a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door to avoid interruptions. 
• Is Telehealth private? Just like a face-to-face appointment, your Telehealth visit will be private and confidential.
• Will the appointments be recorded? None of our appointments will ever be recorded or stored.

Still unsure if Telehealth is right for you? It might be the best option if you:

• Lack health insurance or recently lost coverage
• You don’t have a therapy office nearby
• You lack the time or resources to get to an in-person appointment
• You want the ease and convenience of not having to leave your home
• You’re feeling ill but still want to have a therapy session.

If you’re interested in Telehealth or have any questions regarding how Telehealth works or if it’s right for you, contact us today!

SOURCES:
World Health Organization. (2020). Health and Sustainable Development-Telehealth. Retrieved March 2020, from https://www.who.int/sustainable-development/health-sector/strategies/telehealth/en/