Are counseling offices still open?

This is a good question since so much of how we do things has changed since the pandemic. Many medical offices have reopened, including counseling centers and providers. At the same time, some have not. Some insurance providers are now reimbursing mental health providers for telemental health, so many mental health providers provide counseling services from home. Many other mental health providers are providing online counseling to clients from platforms such as BetterHelp.  

For those counseling centers that have reopened, there are many requirements in place by state public health officials for them to remain open. Stringent sanitary practices are now enforced. Many counseling offices require that clients and potential clients must use a face covering at all times and be mindful of social distancing. Obviously, this can get in the way of a counseling session. It can be difficult for people to talk and be heard when wearing masks, especially since the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) advises people to wear double masks. Two people wearing masks attempting to engage with one another will impact developing a strong bond of trust that is required in a therapeutic relationship. Some mental health providers have opted not to do live sessions in their offices until masks are no longer an issue.

Since the pandemic has started, many people have gotten used to accessing mental health services online. Many resources and live video platform services have arisen since the pandemic started. Therefore, online mental health counseling is no longer viewed as either a fad or a form of counseling used only by digital natives. Many people have gotten the help they need through various types of online counseling.

Convenience is a huge factor in the rise of online counseling. Office-based counseling can only be delivered in a professional office, in person, and commuting time has to be considered, along with the time spent with the mental health provider. Online counseling can be offered not only via live video and phone but also through texting, saving time. In fact, text-based counseling doesn’t even have to be live; it can be asynchronous, with both parties typing and responding at various times convenient to their schedules. This allows people access to help outside the traditional once-a-week office-based counseling setting.