How Does Teletherapy Work, And Is It Effective?

All kinds of activities and services that used to exclusively be available in person can now be reached online as well, and that includes mental health care. Especially since the pandemic, more people have begun turning to teletherapy or telemental health counseling to get the support they need. If you’re new to this format, you may wonder how exactly it works and whether it’s effective. We’ll examine both questions in depth below.

How Teletherapy Works

Teletherapy refers to receiving mental health care in a virtual format. This term typically applies to online talk therapy sessions, which are usually conducted by phone call or video call. Exactly how teletherapy works depends somewhat on the platform or service you go through. In most cases, however, you’ll move through the following steps:

1. Sign up for the platform or service

2. Get information about the mental health challenges you’re seeking help with 

3. Get information about your needs and preferences in a provider (e.g., someone experienced in LGBTQIA+ issues, someone trained in trauma-informed therapy, etc.)

4. Get matched with a licensed therapist

5. Meet with them regularly via phone or video to receive treatment

If your therapy appointments take place via phone call, a working device and a quiet room are all that you need. If your therapy appointments take place via video call, you’ll need a working device (smartphone, tablet, or computer) that can connect to the internet and has a camera. You will not need to travel as with traditional in-person appointments, unless you don’t have an internet connection at home. You also typically don’t need insurance teletherapy, as it tends to be a more cost-effective option than in-person sessions. 

Key Advantages Of Teletherapy

Each individual should feel empowered to choose the type of therapy that’s best for them. There are certain advantages to teletherapy that may make it a more attractive option than in-person sessions for some; let’s take a closer look at these.

You Don’t Need To Travel For Appointments

One of the key advantages of virtual therapy is that it can be done from almost anywhere. As long as you have a device and an internet connection, you can sign on to sessions with your therapist. That means teletherapy allows people who simply could not get mental health care otherwise to get the treatment they may need. For example, some teletherapy users live in rural areas, meaning there might not be in-person providers anywhere near them. Others have a physical disability or a mental illness like social anxiety that may make it difficult or impossible for them to leave their home to get to their sessions. Still others may not have reliable transportation, or may have too busy a schedule to allow for commuting back and forth to appointments. In situations like these, online therapy can be a much more accessible option.

You Can Control Your Environment

Some people choose teletherapy because they prefer to receive the support of a therapist from the comfort of their own home. They can wear whatever they like, sit comfortably, and change the lighting and the temperature of their space as desired, etc. For those who have specific needs or preferences around these types of environmental elements, being able to control them can put them at ease and in the right frame of mind for therapy.

• Another study suggests that virtual therapy is an “effective and cost-effective” treatment method for symptoms of anxiety, with another that found the same for symptoms of depression.

• A study conducted at the University of Zurich found that individuals who received virtual therapy were more likely to describe their care as “personal”. This finding is meaningful since a positive therapist-client relationship is typically highly important for treatment efficacy.

• Finally, couples who attended relationship counseling together via video reported that they felt safer and “less intimidated and judged” by their therapist, according to one study.

Getting Started With Teletherapy

In general, you’re likely to get the best results from pursuing therapy in the format or medium that feels most comfortable for you. If you’re interested in trying online therapy, you might consider using a platform like BetterHelp. All BetterHelp therapists are licensed and have a minimum of three years and 1,000 hours of hands-on experience in clinical practice. You’ll be asked to fill out a brief questionnaire about your needs and preferences and will be matched with a provider in as little as a few days. You can then meet with them via phone or video call, and you may also exchange in-app messages with them between sessions. See below for client reviews of BetterHelp therapists.

Counselor Reviews

“Melissa is wonderful. So happy to be working with her, especially because I was so hesitant to do online counseling in the first place. Really grateful for BetterHelp and the experience I've had!”

“Melissa is wonderful. So happy to be working with her, especially because I was so hesitant to do online counseling in the first place. Really grateful for BetterHelp and the experience I've had!”

FAQs

What is the difference between telehealth and teletherapy?

Telehealth is a broad category of health services that can be delivered virtually. Both physical and mental health services fall under this category. Teletherapy is a specific type of telehealth care that encompasses mental health services in particular.

How is it done?

Therapy sessions conducted through teletherapy are typically almost identical to those conducted in person except for the fact that they’re done via phone or video call instead of in person. An individual seeking online mental health treatment simply needs an internet connection and a working device to attend therapy sessions with their provider.

What can I expect?

Teletherapy treatment is very similar to in-person treatment. It’s simply another way to receive support from licensed professionals for mental illnesses or other mental health concerns from the comfort of home.