Telepsychology

If we insisted that all clients came to our office…

It would exclude many potential patients who need care.

Over the last decade, more psychologists have begun offering this service, calling it by many different names, such as “telepractice,” “telehealth,” “telemental health,” and the older, more generic “telepsychology.” These terms refer to providing any psychological services remotely, through telephone, email, or videoconferencing.

I use telepsychology because I believe it is important to do all I can to make it less difficult for people who need psychological services to access me.

Telepsychology can do so much today, including providing long-distance patient and clinician contact, care, advice, reminders, education, intervention, monitoring, and remote admissions.

In my practice, I use a teleconferencing technology called Doxy.me, which is one of the top 10 most popular telepsychology platforms (it’s easy and free for you to use). Doxy.me is HIPAA-compliant, which means that your information and confidentiality will be protected online.

Some advantages telepsychology includes are ease in accessibility, convenience, service, and engagement.

Accessibility

Remote areas. Rural areas. Illness. Limited mobility.

Increased access for anyone who has difficulty attending an in-office session.

PTSD or agoraphobia.

Telepsychology can be so important for those who don’t meet the requirements of in-person visits with a psychologist.

Even in urban areas where there are plenty of psychologists, cost, transportation, and time constraints could prevent people from seeking mental health services.

Convenience

Expanded hours of service.

Much of telepsychology’s growth is due to consumer demand, especially from younger patients. As people become more used to the convenience of online shopping and social media, meeting with a therapist online may also become a convenience that is expected.

More time for the patient to reflect on themselves outside of therapy.

Service

Direct, sometimes immediate service.

Telepsychology allows psychologists to support clients between visits.

A timely diagnosis by a behavioral scientist via telepsychology could help a child with autism in a rural community to stay in school, which improves socialization. A quick telepsychology check-in could help a psychologist to help monitor the temper of an older patient in a nursing home.

Increased access to a disability specialist, if needed.

Engagement

More emotional involvement from patients due to less inhibition.

One advantage we have seen from telepsychology is that it is removing the stigma that has been long associated with mental health treatment. Eliminating the stigma is great for patients as well as healthcare providers.

In a review of research utilizing a variety of people…

Telepsychology was typically found to be effective.

The quality of empathy and the therapeutic relationship when using telepsychology is consistent with in-person therapy.

The majority of clients feel connected with their therapist even in online settings, especially if the therapist is comfortable working online.

The patient’s comfort level is one of the best indicators for a successful therapeutic relationship.

Just be aware of these potential drawbacks…

It might not be suited to those with severe mental illness.

Clients may develop a “virtual identity” to maintain a certain comfort level.

Children can be restless and inattentive and may need an in-person session to remain engaged.

Misunderstandings may be a problem due to a lack of non-verbal cues.

It could be more difficult for the client to ascertain the therapist’s authenticity.

Here’s what the telepsychology sessions look like…

I will provide you a link to the videoconferencing platform, Doxy.Me. It is easy to use on a phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop. You tap the link and sign in with your first name just a few minutes before the appointment time. I will see you in my virtual waiting room and connect to you at the appointment time.

You will need to use a secure Internet connection rather than public Wi-Fi. Confidentiality still applies to telepsychology services, and nobody will record the session without your permission. We will have a back-up plan to restart the session or reschedule it in the event of technical problems.

It is important to be on time. If you need to cancel or change your appointment, communicate this to me in advance by phone, text, or email. If you are not an adult, I will need the permission of a parent or guardian for you to participate in telepsychology sessions.

As your psychologist, there may be some situations where I determine that telepsychology is no longer appropriate for you, and we should resume our sessions in-person. If that occurs, please understand it is a decision made in your best interest. It is also possible to do a combination of in-person sessions and telepsychology and interchange them based on your preference.

It isn’t more expensive…

Telehealth costs the same as traditional therapy but is more convenient. You save on gas and time commuting.

The length of a session is typically 50 minutes; however, we can tailor to the individual client.

Telepsychology sessions are generally covered by insurance, but you will need to confirm this with your insurance provider. We are a self-pay practice; therefore, you are responsible for the full payment. If you want to seek insurance reimbursement, a “superbill” can be provided to you.

Meet three clients who prefer Telepsychology Therapy…

Milam* is an adolescent who lives with his paternal Grandpa and Step-Grandmother. His parents never married, and he lived his early years with a drug-addicted mother.

At age seven, the schools reported his mother to CPS, and he was forced to go live with his father in another country. Now he is 12 years old and has returned to the United States because Dad “has a new family” that Milam doesn’t fit in with very well. The court has ordered that Milam go to therapy because of all the past turmoil he has faced along with his recent self-destructive behavior at school.

The adults in Milam’s life are in a huge court battle here in the U.S. over where he is going to have to live. Milam is a very shy and gentle preteen who holds his rage inside and blames himself for the difficulties in his life. We began with office sessions, but when his Grandparents had difficulty driving him to appointments, we shifted to Telepsychology.

Milam prefers Telepsychology because he feels it is more private. He admitted how much he hated “having to go to the doctor,” but feels different since “no one even knows when I have an appointment now.”

Rainee* reached out because her best friend has been seeing me since the beginning of this year, and she thinks it might help her to talk to me, too. She said the problem is that her fiancé will know if she comes to the office, and she will have to admit she is getting “cold feet.” She explained that he keeps up with everywhere she goes and who she talks to by checking her car’s mileage, and they already share a cell phone account so he can track her location. She called from the friend’s phone to avoid detection.

After exploring more, I understood she was in a manipulative relationship but did not feel her physical safety was at risk. She said, “I wouldn’t say he is abusive, but he does dominate and want to control me.” They had received some premarital counseling at church, but things stayed the same. I explained to her that because there is a power differential going on in abusive relationships, couples counseling usually results in the abusive partner acting “fine” to the counselor as problems in the relationship are discussed. However, the moment they leave, they often punish their partner for disclosing private information or making them “look bad.” It doesn’t matter what type of abusive relationship – emotional, verbal, financial, sexual, spiritual, or physical mistreatment.

Rainee exclaimed, “Yes, that is what happened!” Rainee agreed to try Telepsychology because she still lived at home with her parents and their computer was not monitored by her fiancé.

Tris* travels extensively for work. He loves his job but finds it difficult to meet friends since he is never in one location for more than a few months. His employer encouraged him to apply for the regional manager position opening up in two months. If he got it, it would mean he only travels once per quarter.

Though he was thrilled about the opportunity, he found his anxiety became so intense that he couldn’t sleep through the night and is even having problems focusing on the work at all. The last thing he wants is for his work performance to deteriorate just when he is standing at the door to career advancement. He contacted me to see if we could do therapy online to address his anxiety and sleep struggles.

I am happy to report that he learned and applied new coping techniques, and he did become a regional manager. He recently met someone he began dating and decided to continue therapy for a season to address some nagging insecurities from past failed relationships because he “wants to bring his A-game at work and in his personal life.” Currently, Tris is alternating between the office and Telepsychology sessions, based on his workload and preference.

Do you…?

Struggle to find time even to make an appointment, much less carve out time to show up for another appointment although you know it is needful?

Want to check out therapy, but feel anxious about others knowing you tried it?

Wish you could sit in your “sweats” and relax in your private world when discussing tough issues?

Feel embarrassed because you haven’t been able to do therapy without crying; so, you hope no one passes by as you come and go from the therapist’s office?

Have questions?

Don’t wait to get the answers you need. Call (281) 900-8040 for a free 15-minute phone consultation. I look forward to hearing from you!

*Names and demographics changed to preserve client confidentiality.