{"id":98718,"date":"2024-05-01T12:04:38","date_gmt":"2024-05-01T12:04:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=98718"},"modified":"2024-05-01T15:05:33","modified_gmt":"2024-05-01T15:05:33","slug":"what-is-teletherapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/therapy\/what-is-teletherapy\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Teletherapy? 7 Benefits & How Session Works"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Woman<\/p>\n

Teletherapy, or virtual therapy, has become the norm, largely due to changing habits during covid. But <\/span>what is teletherapy?<\/b><\/p>\n

In simple terms, <\/span>it is therapy delivered through a digital medium such as an online conference tool or other communications platform.<\/b><\/p>\n

With more people in need of mental health support than there are therapists and counselors, teletherapy has made a difference to countless lives.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>What is teletherapy?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

Teletherapy, not to be confused with radiation teletherapy for cancer treatment, has been around since the 1950s. And if you’re wondering, “What is the difference between brachytherapy and teletherapy”, the former is when radioactive material is placed inside the body, next to a tumor.<\/span><\/p>\n

All this is a world away from the teletherapy we are reviewing, which refers to mental health. It also became more common in the 90s, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s article on the<\/span> history of telepsychiatry<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, what is teletherapy?<\/span><\/p>\n

It’s essentially <\/span>the act of providing mental health support through a digital format.<\/b> This includes anything from video conferencing and VOIP phone lines to email, chat, and text platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n

With an increasing number of platforms offering teletherapy, there is a vast array of therapists and counselors promoting their services online. Some are generalists, whilst others focus on a specialist need.<\/span><\/p>\n

The main aim is to cover every mental health issue that anyone might need no matter where they are across the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED READING : <\/span>What Is Relationship Therapy – Types, Benefits & How It Works<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n

<\/span>How to understand telehealth versus teletherapy<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Man<\/p>\n

You might also sometimes hear the term telehealth. <\/span>Telehealth is the more general term.<\/b> Whilst both terms refer to services offered digitally, telehealth covers other services such as remote patient monitoring, dermatology, general healthcare support, and even physical therapy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other examples of telehealth include virtual doctor visits, prescription checkup calls, and other support follow-ups.<\/span><\/p>\n

In contrast, <\/span>teletherapy refers specifically to mental health services.<\/b><\/p>\n

And is telehealth effective for mental health?<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/b>

Research<\/span><\/a> shows that yes, it is effective and that there is even no significant difference between in-person and telehealth groups.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n

The main reason telehealth works is that people get the support they need without having to navigate the journey to the clinic.<\/b> They are also in their own safe space at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Similarly, we can ask ourselves, “Does teletherapy work?” <\/span>Having access to a mental health professional from the comfort of your home to talk through emotions and challenges is a huge benefit, as research consistently shows.<\/b><\/p>\n

RELATED READING : <\/span>What to Talk About in Therapy and Tips on How to Open Up<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n

<\/span>7 benefits of teletherapy<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

To truly answer the question of what is teletherapy, we must dive into the benefits, as listed below. Overall, teletherapy mental health care has been highly successful for many people but of course, we are all different and it might not work for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, some people are not comfortable on screen and others have more severe issues. Teletherapy does assume that the client is a relatively functioning person.<\/span><\/p>\n

A recent<\/span> study<\/span><\/a> further shows that online therapy works well for people. <\/span><\/p>\n

Nevertheless, as this<\/span> research paper<\/span><\/a> shows, psychologists and therapists will most likely continue in-person sessions with vulnerable, under-resourced socioeconomic groups.<\/p><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n

As you’ll see from the following benefits, teletherapy works well for a large proportion of people.  <\/b><\/p>\n

1. Improved privacy<\/b><\/h3>\n

One of the first benefits of teletherapy that many people think of is that it supports confidentiality. There’s something terrifying about walking into a therapist’s office and potentially being spotted by an acquaintance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course, therapy has been de-stigmatized for many, but the old fears of appearing vulnerable to others are still there in many cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Greater choice<\/b><\/h3>\n

Teletherapy mental health has essentially democratized therapy. <\/span>Online costs are much lower, and people have greater choice of who to work with.<\/b><\/p>\n

And what is teletherapy, if not a way to reach more people more easily?<\/span><\/p>\n

Naturally, local and international licensing laws still apply, but people can still reach out across a wider region.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. A safe space<\/b><\/h3>\n

We are our environments and vice versa. It’s easy to forget that when we review therapy because, after all, what is teletherapy if not a way to support an individual?<\/span><\/p>\n

Regardless, people operate in a system, and they can only ever give a therapist their perspective of their context. With teletherapy,<\/span> though, the therapist can see some of their clients’ context.<\/b><\/p>\n

In some cases, children, pets and other family members might even appear on screen, giving further data points and learning opportunities for both therapist and client.<\/span><\/p>\n

And what is teletherapy if not a learning journey, to improve mental health? <\/span>The more we include the context and environment, the more likely any changes can be sustained.<\/b><\/p>\n

Listen to coach and mentor Sharon McCaffrey if you want to find out more about how our environment impacts us to find out more:<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n