Telehealth or in-person—does it matter?
Emergence of Virtual Therapy
Telehealth first saw its widespread emergence during the COVID-19 pandemic when medical and mental health professionals needed use to provide for their patients during a difficult time in the world. Telehealth platforms facilitate remote therapy sessions, offering individuals the opportunity to access mental health support from the comfort of their own spaces.
Mental health therapy through telehealth can be effective because it offers timely and personalized support, creating a sense of connection crucial for mental well-being. Some studies have shown that telehealth can be just as effective as in-person therapy, and other studies suggest in-person therapy will always be the gold standard of care due to the nuanced nature of therapy. In other words, in-person therapy will always be able to see things that a client does that may not be seen during virtual sessions. So, what does this mean for you?
Benefits and Limitation of In-Person and Telehealth Therapy
Though in-person therapy will allow a therapist to catch certain nonverbal signals that you may do, it is important to be educated and aware of the pros and cons of both in-person and telehealth therapy so that you can feel confident in making the right choice for you.
Benefits of In-Person
Structured environment: An in-person session provides a consistent structured, controlled, and therapeutic setting .
Nonverbal cues: Therapists can better understand your emotions and reactions by observing nonverbal cues in-person that they may not notice on a virtual session.
Safe space: Some clients may be experiencing chaos or abuse in their life, and in-person therapy is a controlled, structured environment that not only optimizes the therapeutic processes but also prioritizes your safety.
De-escalation: Therapy can bring up a lot of stuff, and you might find yourself getting overwhelmed during session. In-person therapy provides an on-site licensed clinician that can assist you effectively in-person in ways that may not be as effective during a telehealth session.
Limitations of In-Person
Time or physical constraints: In-person sessions require an individual to travel to the session, which can be considered time-consuming and challenging for those with a busy schedule or who cannot physically get to therapy when they need it the most. Some people have to work multiple jobs and/or take care of their children and/or are enrolled in school and we understand that.
Remote areas: In some areas, individuals may not have access to in-person therapy nearby or may not have any therapists in their immediate area who are competent in working with certain issues and populations. The biggest example of this is LGBTQIA+ youth and adults in small, conservative towns and cities.
Benefits of Telehealth
Convenience: Some people with busier schedules, more responsibilities, and/or a physical impairment may not have the time, capacity, or means to attend in-person sessions. Or, you may just not be feeling the best and/or contagious but need to talk.
Flexibility: Telehealth offers patients a wide variety of flexible scheduling options, which allows those with a busy lifestyle to be able to attend therapy.
Limitations of Telehealth
The lack of nonverbal cues: Nonverbal cues and nuances can be insightful and therapeutic to your therapist. Telehealth limits the number of nuanced, nonverbal cues your therapist may notice and bring into awareness.
Technological issues: Internet or technical problems can hinder the therapeutic process during a session. In addition, some individuals may need access to the internet and may not have access to a stable connection.
Privacy: The number one consideration with telehealth is privacy. Not only should you have physical privacy wherever you have your telehealth session, but you also need to have electronic privacy as well.
So what does this all mean?
Essentially, in-person therapy will always be preferred and seen by many clinicians as the “gold standard” of therapy simply because in-person therapy allows a more controlled, consistent, safe space for you to be vulnerable when you need it the most. It is also important to understand that telehealth and virtual therapy is not for everyone. Your therapist cannot truly know if you are alone or safe or if you are tapping your leg because your anxious unless they are simply there with you in-person—and that is why it is important and recommended as best practice for your therapist to screen you for telehealth. Telehealth is not a “one size fits all” solution to mental health care, however, most individuals can benefit from it. If you think telehealth may benefit you or have questions about it, you can book a free consult call with one of our therapists today.
