Is Teletherapy Right For Me?

The COVID-19 pandemic has left its mark on most of us: countless tragedies, massive inconveniences, and major changes to how we connect with loved ones, colleagues, and clients.

While nothing could justify the grief of the pandemic, it has introduced a new opportunity for accessing mental health services: teletherapy.

What is Teletherapy?

Teletherapy is the use of computer, tablet, or phone to access psychotherapy services anywhere a strong enough internet connection is available.

The Pros

Teletherapy can be very appealing to those for whom transportation would otherwise be a barrier to treatment. It also is an excellent option when you’re ill with something potentially contagious. And when an emergency shifts your schedule, teletherapy can allow you to attend therapy despite a time crunch. Some clients choose to start with telehealth because they begin therapy with social anxiety, panic disorder, or agorophobia.

The Cons

Despite those advantages, teletherapy has some significant drawbacks. Your therapist won’t be able to control your privacy (e.g. loved ones, roommates, and coworkers overhearing us.) Also, there’s something to be said for changing your physical environment when doing important, powerful work on yourself. And technology can fail, causing interruptions that wouldn’t happen with in-person therapy. Finally, clients with social anxiety, panic disorder, or agorophobia can sometimes use coming to the office as a growth opportunity.

My Perspective

When physical distance, scheduling, and illness are not obstacles, I generally recommend in-person sessions over teletherapy. While I have worked with clients through teletherapy and seen excellent results, I think in-person therapy allows for more options of what can be done in session, particularly when I’m concerned clients wouldn’t feel as free to be themselves when others are nearby (e.g. “Of COURSE things are going great with my partner/roommate/kids!”)

If you become a client of mine, we’ll talk about whether teletherapy makes sense for you, even if it’s an “only sometimes” option. If you ever have any questions about teletherapy, please ask me and I’ll be happy to discuss your options and any things you might consider before deciding whether or not to use teletherapy.