Teletherapy and Mental Health Treatment

Teletherapy as More Inclusive Mental Health Care

Teletherapy has been recognized as the next step in mental health treatment for years. In contrast to medical professions that require a more hands-on approach, such as physical therapy or surgery, talk therapy has long felt like a natural and effective fit for telehealth. Telehealth, advocates argued, could make counseling more accessible and convenient for everyone by moving appointments from the therapist’s couch to patients’ homes via their devices, with particular benefits for those who lived in health care deserts or couldn’t regularly drive back and forth to see a clinician.

Telehealth use has risen significantly in recent years, and the COVID-19 epidemic has expedited this trend. While the telehealth landscape is constantly changing, with new benefits for providers, clients, populations, and costs, the techniques and programs have shown efficacy in improving client mental health in a variety of settings and scenarios.

People were able to adapt as the pandemic proceeded. They found online group exercise classes, Zoom book groups, and even teletherapy consultations as virtual equivalents for in-person activities. People are adjusting once more now that some of the more severe lockdowns have been lifted.

Teletherapy Is an Effective Treatment 

New Beginnings: Teletherapy Approaches Involving Mental Health Assessment.  In most circumstances, according to a survey of 755 published articles, video conferencing is just as beneficial as in-person care. Another study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders compared persons who received internet-based CBT for depression to those who received in-person CBT. The study discovered that not only was the online treatment just as successful as the in-person treatment, but also individuals in the internet-based treatment group had fewer symptoms three months following treatment, whereas those in the in-person treatment group had worse symptoms.

Teletherapy benefits both the patient and the practitioner in addition to being a successful modality. Because they do not have to factor in travel time, patients generally report greater convenience and flexibility in scheduling their appointments. They can conduct exposure exercises in their own real-world surroundings while remaining in a comfortable location and not having to worry about running into people when they arrive or exit the office. Above all, people can get the help they need regardless of where they are. According to a 2019 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly 40% of Americans live in areas with critical shortages of mental health professionals, with the poor and rural areas being the worst served. Teletherapy bridges that gap by providing critical care to those in need right where they live.

There are also advantages for therapists. Clinicians have discovered that when using teletherapy, they have considerably fewer cancellations and no-shows, in addition to having a more flexible schedule. They are sometimes able to acquire insight into a patient’s environment and better analyze how they are doing daily activities. They can provide skill practice and continuity of care that face-to-face office visits cannot always deliver. Overall, the innovations sparked by this type of technology can benefit both sides of the therapeutic partnership. Teletherapy is definitely a successful treatment option for a variety of mental health issues. Many people who are unable to attend in-person seminars can benefit from it. Medical experts warn that as the pandemic progresses, the demand for therapy will only rise.

Considerations at the Individual Level

Clients’ levels of:

• Telehealth engagement comfort or willingness
• Technology or high-speed Internet access
• Fear of using technology or concerns about the potential for privacy breaches

Many people can now participate in telehealth thanks to the widespread availability of cell phones. Smartphones enable synchronous videoconferencing for telehealth-based therapy and asynchronous apps for medication monitoring, symptom tracking, and messaging between the client and physician.

Telehealth and Health Equity

Telehealth has the potential to expand equitable health access. Telehealth treatments, on the other hand, necessitate the use of technology and the Internet. In 2019, almost 10% of Americans did not have access to the Internet. People who do not use the Internet are more likely to live in rural areas, be 65 or older, have less than a high school education, and by people of color.

1.  Organizations and practitioners should be aware of and address equity issues and inequitable healthcare access for underserved populations.
2. Translation services improve accessibility for clients who do not speak English.

Special Considerations 

Some customers, such as those with hearing impairments, disabilities, or language problems, may find it challenging to participate in telehealth.

• The National Association of the Deaf has accessible materials for deaf and hard-of-hearing clients.

• The American Psychological Association has a telehealth tip sheet for people with disabilities.

• Providing translation services can aid in ensuring fair health-care access. Many translation services are already available over the phone. Consider how to extend translation services for telehealth applications.

Inform The Client About The Telehealth Guidelines 

Provide the client with an overview of expected norms and behaviors for telehealth.

• The camera angle and quality, screen size, and other factors can limit the ability to read a client’s behavior. Ask the client to adjust the camera angle, if possible, to aid in reading non-verbal cues. 
• While the session may be taking place in the client’s home, ask that the client dress appropriately.
• Remind clients not to multi-task while engaging in the session, such as texting or using the Internet. Empower the client to share if they are having difficulties hearing or engaging with the provider. 
• Remind the client that while the provider may be taking notes or documenting the medical record, the provider’s attention is focused on the client.

Internal Preparation and Staff Capacity to Participate in Telehealth Strategies

• Identify a program champion

Program champions can play a variety of roles in the clinic (for example, providers, telehealth coordinators, and leadership), but as champions, they can advocate for telehealth with upper management, provide formal and informal telehealth training, and identify challenges and propose solutions.

• Training and capacity-building

Provide protected time for implementation training wherever available. All involved staff and partners should be included in training and capacity-building activities.

• Create a pilot program

Motivated and engaged providers can try out implementation tools and then share their findings with their peers. Providers can also participate in peer learning consultations to discuss their experiences and techniques.

• Engage clinical personnel to support telehealth

To effectively integrate telehealth technologies, professionals at all levels will need to be involved.

• Obtain secure equipment and videoconferencing platforms

Organizations that wish to extend their telehealth alternatives need dependable and long-term technology and IT support.

• Invest in high-quality broadband Internet to address issues such as visual resolution, audio delays, and service disruption.
•  Provide ongoing technical support

As issues develop, provide technological resources to maintain equipment, support technology changes, and provide training and assistance.

Teletherapy Is the Treatment of the Future for Mental Illness

Despite its flaws, mental health professionals are optimistic about teletherapy’s potential as a viable treatment option and believe it will continue to exist if the face masks are removed. Most patients will likely transition to a hybrid model in the future, which mixes teletherapy with some in-person treatment.