Teletherapy, also known as video therapy, remote therapy, telehealth, or online therapy, was once viewed as an alternative to in-person counseling. But the coronavirus pandemic forced us to rely on teletherapy as the primary was to give and receive mental health care. As we all adjusted to this new way of care, we’re realizing it’s not only just as effective as in-person therapy, but for many they prefer remote therapy.
You Can Stay Safe at Home
First and foremost, remote therapy allows us to stay home and stay safe. We don’t have to worry about contagions or viruses. We can prioritize our mental health without jeopardizing our physical health. Safety shouldn’t be compromised to get mental health help.
Teletherapy Offers More Flexibility
Even while we are staying home more, we have busy schedules, and that’s especially true if you have kids. Teletherapy allows us to fit mental health care into our schedules and routines. Seeing your therapist remotely allows you to save on driving time – no more traffic! Maybe your only free hour during the day is your lunch break – now you can squeeze in a therapy session and don’t have to break a sweat. Distance, schedules, and driving times are no longer a barrier to getting the support you need.
Teletherapy Connects You to the Outside World
We’re stuck inside our bubbles, talking to the same people, seeing the same environment day after day. Teletherapy connects you to the outside world. It connects you with someone who isn’t part of your same circle of friends or family. Perhaps your therapist can offer you some insight that is new, or help you think about your situation in a different light. Before the pandemic, we interacted with many more people than we do now. Your therapist is not only someone who can improve your mental health, but can help connect you with a fresh perspective and new ideas.
Teletherapy Gives You More Choice and Freedom
With in-person counseling, we are restricted to seeing someone who offers therapy near where we live or work. The beauty of teletherapy is that your options dramatically increase. You have the freedom to see a therapist who is licensed in your state, even if they don’t currently live in your state. Teletherapy gives both clients and therapists the freedom to choose who they want to see, and increases access to care. We now have more tools to help ourselves.
Reducing Anxiety and Depression
For many people, just leaving the house – or even your bed – can induce depression or anxiety. Therapy is supposed to reduce your anxiety – not add to it – and now teletherapy makes it easier to get that help. If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, and physically bringing yourself to therapy was a barrier, that barrier has been taken away so you can talk to someone without leaving your home, or even your bed.
Some people are dealing with increased fear and sadness as a result of the pandemic and isolation. We are all realizing that it’s never going to go back to the way it was, so how do we cope with that sadness? Therapy can help you adapt to this new way of life, and change and grow. We can grow, keep going, and evolve out of this together.
Our Homes are Where we Heal
Being forced to stay home more has had some unexpected positive outcomes. I’m more present with my family and with myself. I get to have lunch with my kids, where as before I didn’t have time. I can be more present with what we used to take for granted – time with my family and time for self-care. Where we live is our temple – our happy, safe space. It’s a place that gives us space and time to heal. Our homes are sources of healing, where we can nourish our minds and bodies. It only makes sense that teletherapy is becoming the preferred tool for improving our mental health care, since we can get support from a caring and compassionate professional from the safety and comfort of our homes.
Are You Ready to Heal through Teletherapy?
Many people are wondering if teletherapy is actually as good as in-person therapy. A good therapist will be able to read your verbal clues and your body language over video. How your therapist picks up on those subtle clues shows the skill of your therapist. It forces us as therapists to become aware of the smaller movements and pay greater attention to sound. Just like in-person counseling, it’s important to have a good fit and good rapport with your therapist when doing online therapy. And since you don’t have to leave home, t’s even easier now to find a therapist who’s a good fit. We need to laugh, love, and know that someone is listening. It doesn’t matter if they are sitting three feet away from you.
I am licensed in both Florida and Delaware. If you need support, I offer online therapy in both English and Spanish. Contact me today for a free 30-minute consultation, so I can answer all of your questions and help you feel better from the comfort of your own home.
