Online Counseling

(aka Telehealth, Web therapy, phone therapy, text therapy or online therapy)

With the changing world, technology has created an evolution in how people receive psychotherapy. Counseling has been moved out of the therapist’s office and into whatever location you are connected to the Internet.

I take pride in ensuring that the services I offer both online or in person meet the client’s needs.

Effective: Researchers are taking great interest in telepsychology and telehealth, evaluating how well it works, especially compared to in-person, in-office psychotherapy sessions.

Comfort: Online communication is very comfortable for many people.  More people are using email, webinars and text messaging to communicate, and it can seem more comfortable or easier than talking to someone in person, especially when revealing personal or private information.

Convenience: Online therapy can take less time away from the office or your workday or worry about traffic. No need to travel miles to meet up with your therapist.

Secure: I ensure that clients have a safe, private space to share deeply personal and sometimes difficult stories, thoughts or emotions. The site or app you use should, at a minimum, be HIPAA-compliant and have the ability to verify your identity and your therapist’s identity. NO RECORDINGS and INFORMATION IS NOT STORED

Accessible: It can provide access to those who can’t get to an office. In some rural communities, the nearest psychologist office may be an hour or two drive away. Some people with chronic illnesses or disabilities may not be able to drive or easily able to leave their home. In these situations, Web- or telephone-based therapy may be their only option for help.

Payment: Many insurance companies cover the treatment of mental health and substance abuse disorders—treatment that includes in-person psychotherapy. If you are paying out of pocket, I will provide an invoice that you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Web-conferencing and streaming in real time can offer continuity when a patient is on vacation or not able to make a regular session.

There are cases in which Web-conferencing or therapy via telephone does seem to be a viable option on its own for some people. But for now, with the current research and with the current technology, mobile apps and text messaging are best used as complementary to in-person psychotherapy.